Three men in Ho Chi Minh City and the northern province of Quang Ninh have been arrested for smuggling illegal entrants into Vietnam from China. 

Hoang Van Cu, 21, and Nguyen Van Thanh, 26, were detained by HCMC police Friday for allowing illegal Chinese entrants into the city.

Two of the Chinese found staying in HCMC after entering Vietnam illegally.
Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Vy.

Cu allegedly helped them find accommodation at a house in Tan Phu District for VND200,000 ($8.74) per person per day, police stated.

Thanh rented out an apartment in District 7 to harbor 13 illegal Chinese entrants, providing them accomodation and meals for VND10 million, it was added.

In Quang Ninh Province that borders China, Le Van Kieu, 43, was detained by police of Hai Ha District on Thursday. Five days prior, police had found a Vietnamese woman who had illegally crossed into Vietnam from China staying at a local hotel thanks to Kieu's assistance.

Le Van Kieu, 43, at a police station in Quang Ninh Province.
Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Huyen.

The woman said she wanted to return to Vietnam but did not want to be quarantined for 14 days as per existing Covid-19 prevention protocol, so she enlisted the help of Kieu at a price of 5,000 yuan ($777.30).

Vietnam has been ramping up border control measures lately due to a rising influx of illegal entrants from surrounding countries amid the coronavirus crisis. The nation is dealing with its fourth coronavirus wave, which has seen 176 community transmissions in 19 cities and provinces.