On May 29, an Australian tourist went on a rampage at a café in Da Nang, smashing furniture and other property, causing extensive damage and significant financial losses. The incident quickly went viral on social media and is currently under investigation by local authorities.
Prior to that, Ho Chi Minh City police arrested two Samoan nationals who allegedly committed murder and later hid in Vietnam. In Hanoi, police say there is a growing tendency for foreign criminals to relocate to Vietnam to carry out scam-related activities.
A series of cases involving foreign nationals committing crimes in Vietnam has raised a question: Is foreign crime in Vietnam on the rise?
What’s behind more visible foreign crimes in Vietnam?
In 2024, around 16,000 foreign nationals were found to have committed offences in Vietnam. The figure includes a wide range of violations, such as theft, fraud, drug-related crimes, cybercrime, illegal gambling, and the operation of online gambling networks.
In 2025, according to Lieutenant Colonel Phung Van Ha of the People's Police Academy, the number of crimes committed by foreign nationals has not increased significantly. However, he noted that some recent cases have been marked by greater severity and increasingly sophisticated methods, which often attracted greater public attention.
In the first quarter of 2026, Hanoi police uncovered three separate cases involving 58 foreign nationals from multiple countries who were allegedly operating online fraud, online gambling, and illegal immigration schemes. Investigators said the suspects entered Vietnam on tourist visas and e-visas before setting up covert operations in rented apartments and hotels.
According to Dr. Truong The Hung of Vietnam's Academy of Social Sciences, such cases expose persistent gaps in Vietnam's management of foreign nationals. While authorities are able to record entries and exits, they often have limited oversight of foreigners' movements, activities, and backgrounds once they are inside the country.
The problem is not only enforcement but also coordination. According to lawyer Nguyen Duc of Hanoi's Nhan Nghia Law Office, coordination among the agencies responsible for managing foreign nationals, including the Tourism Administration, the Ministry of Labour and local authorities, remains fragmented. He argues that information sharing between those authorities is often inadequate, creating gaps in oversight once foreigners enter the country. As a result, warning signs of criminal activity may go unnoticed until authorities intervene.
Strengthen oversight on foreign nationals
The Ministry of Public Security said it would strengthen the management of foreign nationals living and travelling in Vietnam while maintaining relatively open visa and immigration policies.
According to the ministry, police units nationwide have been instructed to strengthen enforcement measures related to foreigners residing in the country. In provinces with large foreign populations, such as Da Nang and Khanh Hoa, local authorities have also stepped up inspections, monitoring and enforcement efforts.
In Khanh Hoa, home to the popular beach destination of Nha Trang, provincial police reported that since the beginning of 2026, they have identified and apprehended 6 individuals subject to Interpol Red Notices, sanctioned and transferred 30 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in online fraud for further investigation by overseas police forces. In addition, 116 foreigners were deported for immigration-related violations, while 8 criminal cases involving 21 foreign suspects were prosecuted.
In addition, the Ministry of Public Security has proposed new regulations on the management of foreign nationals in Vietnam, replacing Decree No. 65/2015 on coordination in the management of foreigners' entry, exit, transit and residence.
Under the draft regulations, the Ministry of Public Security would take the lead in coordinating and sharing information with other relevant agencies. Immigration authorities would also be required to provide information on foreigners granted visas at international border gates to border control forces before they arrive in Vietnam.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, meanwhile, would be responsible for updating and transferring information on foreigners issued visas or temporary residence cards to immigration authorities within five working days. The ministry would also coordinate with law enforcement agencies in verifying information, handling violations and carrying out measures such as compulsory departure or deportation when necessary.
If adopted, the new framework would expand Vietnam's oversight of foreign nationals beyond entry and exit records, enabling authorities to monitor and share information related to foreigners both before and after their arrival in the country.
As Vietnam continues to attract growing numbers of tourists, investors and foreign workers, authorities face the challenge of balancing openness with effective oversight. For many observers, the issue is no longer simply about who enters the country, but whether state agencies can effectively respond to emerging risks once foreign nationals are inside Vietnam.
