Alleged fleeing Vietnamese tourists captured by a CCTV at a hotel before disappearing (Photo: CNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Elevenout of 152 Vietnamese tourists who were suspected of fleeing in Taiwan weredetained by the local authorities for investigation, according to the VietnamEconomic and Cultural Office in Taipei.
Based on information and recommendations fromTaiwan, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, andNational Administration of Tourism have been working with Taiwaneseagencies to investigate and address the case.
The foreign ministry hasinstructed the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei to contact localcompetent authorities to seek full information about these tourists and visitthe detainees.
Earlier, the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism affirmed that it has asked relevant agencies to verify thereport that 152 Vietnamese tourists fled in Taiwan.
According to initial information, the Ho ChiMinh City-based International Holidays Trading Travel Co. Ltd received thisgroup of tourists from a Taiwanese partner to help them get tourist visas.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism saidtourism activities and the eased visa policy for tourists in some countries andterritories have been abused for the purpose of illegal working. It doesn’trule out the possibility that some organisations and individuals have takenadvantage of this policy to set up rings illegally sending Vietnamese overseas.
Such violations must be strictly punished inline with laws, the ministry said.
Taiwanese authorities said that investigationinto the case is underway. In the immediate future, Taiwan plans to stopgranting group visas for the Vietnamese company, which arranged itineraries forthe missing tourists.-VNA
VNA
