'Strange' store specializes in welcoming elderly Chinese customers, risk of zero-dong tour recurring

"Strange" shopping stores

According to the Mong Cai International Border Gate Management Board, since the beginning of the year, especially after the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin, Chinese tourists have been flocking to this place. Notably, the Chinese tourists are old, after entering Quang Ninh, they mainly visit the day tour program in Mong Cai City.

Tens of thousands of elderly Chinese people travel to Quang Ninh , visiting shopping stores around the border gate.

Notably, according to travel companies specializing in welcoming this type of guest, the above-mentioned Chinese elderly people all visit "strange" shopping stores around Mong Cai International Border Gate.

Specifically, information from the Mong Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station said that after the Lunar New Year, this unit completed entry procedures for more than 200,000 Chinese tourists from January to early March. In particular, after the full moon of January, more Chinese tourists entered the country.

Chinese tourists to Quang Ninh are all old.

In recent days, the number of Chinese tourists entering Quang Ninh has increased dramatically, with some days reaching about 10,000 people, causing Mong Cai International Border Gate to be "paralyzed" at times.

Thanh Nien 's observations from March 25 to 27 at Mong Cai International Border Gate show that this place is always crowded with Chinese tourists. It is not difficult to see that these tourists are all elderly, many of them still use canes. Afterwards, they are picked up by travel agencies and taken on a journey to visit "strange" shopping stores.

Chinese tourists shop at Mong Cai International Border Gate

These stores are "strange" in that they only serve Chinese customers, while Vietnamese customers are asked to leave. During the days of research in Mong Cai City, Thanh Nien reporters tried to visit and shop but were refused service because they were not Chinese customers.

Risk of "zero-dollar tours" recurring

According to Thanh Nien reporters, around Mong Cai International Border Gate there are about 10 shopping stores specializing in serving the above mentioned customers. These stores mainly sell items such as functional foods, handicrafts, fashion , etc.

To enter these stores, Chinese customers are required to wear identification cards; anyone without an identification card is asked to leave. Inside, the stores are tightly closed, security is tight, and no one knows how the staff introduces or sells.

Chinese customers entering the store are required to wear a badge.

Posing as Chinese tourists, we went to the Trade Center at 66 Hoa Binh Avenue (Tran Phu Ward, Mong Cai City), which is considered the "capital" for welcoming elderly Chinese tourists.

Inside the stores, there are many international brands on sale, which if sold at the correct price on the international market would be up to hundreds of thousands of USD such as: Rolex watches; Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior handbags...

Observing a bill that a Chinese tourist received at this store, the reporter realized that it was not issued by the tax department but was printed by the companies themselves.

Behind this door is a shopping mall promoting many expensive brands in the world, but the quality is unknown.

Not only the above location, along Hoa Binh Avenue (Tran Phu Ward, Mong Cai City) there are also many shops serving Chinese customers selling products of unknown origin.

Recently (March 20), Market Management Team No. 4, Market Management Department of Quang Ninh province, in coordination with the Customs Control Team, Mong Cai Border Gate Customs Branch, suddenly inspected a business location specializing in serving Chinese customers, located on Hoa Binh Boulevard and discovered a series of products of unknown origin.

Elderly Chinese people wait to be led into shopping stores.

The store, owned by MC New World Travel Company Limited, is selling more than 500 food packages including cakes, candies, jams, cigarettes, etc. of unknown origin. This is also a store that specializes in serving Chinese customers, with about 1,000 visitors per day. Afterwards, the Market Management Department of Quang Ninh province administratively fined MC New World Travel Company Limited 70 million VND.

Crowds of elderly Chinese people visit shopping stores

Explaining the reason why many Chinese elderly people are entering Quang Ninh, Mr. Ta Quang Thang, Director of The Ky Moi Company Limited, said that during this time, Chinese elderly people are offered preferential packages by travel agencies for them to travel. This group of tourists is retired so they have time to travel and shop. They come to Vietnam and are taken to shops around the border gate. If there is no strict control, I am afraid that the "zero-dong tour" in Quang Ninh will recur like before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking to reporters, a leader of Mong Cai City said that recently, the number of Chinese visitors entering the locality has been quite large, leading to an overload situation. Through information from reporters, Mong Cai City authorities will assign relevant agencies to urgently inspect and closely monitor activities to welcome Chinese visitors.

Thanh Nien sources said that recently, in Ha Long City, 100 Chinese people belonging to the above mentioned group of tourists were "abandoned" by a travel agency and had to return home on their own. Currently, the authorities are making a record to handle the incident.

To clarify the incident, the reporter contacted the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, but the unit's leaders have not yet responded.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/cua-hang-la-chuyen-don-khach-cao-tuoi-trung-quoc-nguy-co-tai-dien-tour-0-dong-185240327113618082.htm