Hanoi immigration officer suspended on suspicion of asking for tips from Singaporean tourist

On Thursday, a representative of the department under the Ministry of Public Security said the suspension was ordered to investigate the allegation.

The representative said the department would strictly deal with the case but refused to provide any further details.

The incident came to light after the Singaporean tourist, identified as Kugan Pillai, posted on Facebook on Monday about being asked for “tips” by an immigration officer at Noi Bai International Airport just as he was going through immigration and about to leave for Singapore.

A screenshot of Kugan Pillai’s Facebook post that accused an immigration officer at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport of asking for tips from him.

“I was at Hanoi’s airport immigration departing for Singapore today when this immigration officer wrote “tips” on my air ticket,” said Kugan Pillai. “He was holding my passport and asking for it.”

He said he was rushing for his flight so he gave the officer VND500,000 (US$21.29).

“I felt like I was being held hostage and that if I didn’t give him the money, I wouldn’t get my passport chopped,” he wrote in the Facebook post.

His post has attracted 19,000 reactions and 10,000 shares.

Vietnam reopened its border to foreign tourists in March last year.

The country received 3.6 million foreign tourists in 2022, or 70% of its target. It hopes to welcome 8 million foreign visitors this year.