A Chinese citizen received 5.5 years in prison for a fake ID in Vietnam
A man who was staying in Vietnam illegally paid 165 million dong to arrange documents in the name of a fictitious citizen of the country and ultimately received a genuine identity card with someone else’s data.
On August 14, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court sentenced 40-year-old Chinese citizen Dong Jian to 5 years and 6 months in prison for using forged documents and bribery. The investigation established that in 2021 the man illegally entered Vietnam and remained in the country.
In March 2025, Dong Jian gave an acquaintance 50,000 yuan — about 165 million dong — to obtain documents allowing him to continue staying in Vietnam. For this purpose, a fictitious identity of a Vietnamese citizen named Bui Van Hao was created.
First, a fake birth certificate was made for him. Then, through former police officers, the entry of false data into the National Population Database was arranged. Despite the absence of the necessary checks and confirmations, information about Bui Van Hao was entered into the system, after which Dong Jian received a genuine identity card in someone else’s name.
Several people took part in the scheme. Three former police officers received from 1 year to 1 year and 6 months in prison for abuse of official powers. Two other participants — Bui Thuy Ai and Duong Van Dung — received 4 years and 3 months and 4 years in prison respectively for organizing the illegal stay of a foreigner and bribery.
The scheme was uncovered in July 2025, when immigration officers, during a document check while departing through Noi Bai Airport, discovered inconsistencies in the documents of the person registered as Bui Van Hao. The check showed that a Chinese citizen, Dong Jian, was hiding behind this identity.
