Da Nang (VNA) – The Ministry of Public Security has set up aninterdisciplinary inspection team to supervise foreigners’ compliance with theregulations on their entry, exit, and residence in central Da Nang city.

The move was made after many foreigners were reported toillegally work as tour guides in Da Nang city, affecting the tourism sector,security and order in the city.

Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Luu, Chief Inspector of theministry, said that Major General Nguyen Huu Tiep, deputy chief inspector ofthe Ministry of Public Security, would lead the team. The team is comprised ofrepresentatives of the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs and Da Nang inspectors.

Luu said that during the 45-day inspection, the team wouldtighten supervision on the implementation of the law on entry, exit andresidence of foreigners in the city, boost education efforts on those laws andstrengthen enforcement.

Luu has asked leaders of the units to coordinate well withthe inspection team, including preparing reports, dossiers and relevantdocuments and appointing staff to work with the team.

He has also asked the inspection team to ensure their jobwould not cause any harm to the operation of the concerned agencies and units.

Shortcomings, difficulties and obstacles in enforcementwould be detected, so that the relevant authorities would propose to amend, supplementor promulgate new regulations on the entry, exit and residence of foreigners,he added.

Ho Ky Minh, Deputy Chairman of the city’s People’sCommittee, said that the committee has required all relevant agencies and unitsto prepare reports and complete dossiers and documents for the inspection.

Early this month, the city’s People’s Committee had askedlocal police to enhance the management of travel and tourist guides, especiallycoordinate with the districts’ authorities to review the list of foreigners usinglong-term tourist visas or multiple-entry visas to work with Vietnameseenterprises in Ngu Hanh Son, Son Tra and Hai Chau districts.

Last September, the city’s government and tourism authorityreceived a petition, which claimed that many Chinese tour guides were workingillegally in the city. The petition, with 130-140 signatures, also argued thatthese tour guides distorted Vietnamese history and culture while servingtourists.

Figures from the city’s Department of Tourism showed thatthe department imposed a total fine of 763.7 million VND (33,680 USD) on93 violating cases.

The city currently has 623 Chinese-speaking tourguides licensed by the Department of Tourism. – VNA