This is the second time this year that illegal entrants in the southern metropolis have been deported.

These migrants were brought into Vietnam via less-traveled border paths with the help of Vietnamese. They then entered HCMC on coaches to either look for jobs or cross the border once more into Cambodia.

Over the past month, HCMC police have busted over 108 illegal Chinese entrants, but the actual number might be much higher. As the coronavirus crisis escalates in surrounding countries, illegal entrants to Vietnam are deemed at high risk of Covid-19 infection, representing a threat to the domestic coronavirus fight.

Several people smugglers have been arrested and are under criminal investigation, said Nguyen Sy Quang, deputy director of the HCMC police department.

Vietnam has raised alerts on illegal entrants over concerns of coronavirus infections.

The country's new Covid-19 wave has seen 729 local cases recorded in 26 cities and provinces since April 27.