HCMC police to inspect all foreigners’ accommodations

HCMC police are launching a month-long inspection of all facilities that accommodate foreigners in the city to make sure they comply with regulations requiring them to report foreign residents.

The immigration management division of the HCMC police said the campaign would begin August 1, focusing on dealing with landlords and facility managers who do not report that foreigners are staying at their facilities.

The southern metropolis is currently home to around 100,000 foreigners, the highest number among all localities in Vietnam. The city has around 80,000 accommodation facilities, including hotels, apartments, houses and other homes.

The police said people regularly fail to report foreigners’ stay in the city, making it easier for criminal activities to thrive. Since the beginning of 2022, HCMC police have busted over 5,300 cases of such violations, mostly in apartments and secluded neighborhoods.

« A rising trend is illegal immigration, allowing criminals to conduct hi-tech frauds, organize gambling and offer high-interest loans on the Internet. Their trick is to rent secluded houses and apartments, which lack proper management, to perform their criminal acts, » a police representative said.

HCMC police have allowed foreigners’ stay to be reported online through the immigration management division’s website https://hochiminh.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn since 2007. While 96% of all accommodation facilities have used the service, the report rate is still low for apartments and secluded houses.

By Quoc Thang – VnExpress.net – July 13, 2023