The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is encouraging tour companies to perform thorough background checks on local travelers going abroad.
According to Thanh Nien, VNAT's message comes in the wake of a mass disappearance of tourists of tourists from South Korea's Jeju Island, where Vietnamese passport holders are permitted to stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
Last week, dozens of members of a Vietnamese tour group went missing after their charter flight landed on Jeju Island. The number varies depending upon the news outlet, but it is estimated that between 46 and 56 visitors disappeared from their tour group. Since then, 19 tourists have been found, according to the Korea Herald, some of whom were attempting to work illegally on Jeju Island.
The rest of the missing visitors remain at large, while the Korean Coast Guard has stepped up its efforts to prevent the tourists from reaching other provinces. Those who have since been found are under investigation and will be released if cleared of suspicion by Korean authorities.
[Photo via Du Lich Malaysia]
