Thanh Hoa Provincial Police announced on April 24 that they had broken up a transnational gambling ring run through an international cockfighting arena in Laos, working with the Ministry of Public Security's criminal police department, Vietnam's public security representative office in Laos and Lao authorities1. The operation was led by Dao Anh Dung, 47, of Ha Dong ward in Hanoi, and his wife Quach Thi Hang, according to the announcement1.
The arena, called Truong ga quoc te Vieng Xay, was located in Viengxay district in Houaphan province, Laos1. Police said it was built on a large scale specifically to serve Vietnamese gamblers, with dining areas, a canteen and multiple rest rooms on site1. Hang managed the operation overall and directly ran the reception, cashier, accounting, filming and broadcast, commentary, security and canteen units1.
Beyond in-person betting, the group set up filming and livestreaming on a website and Telegram groups so gamblers could bet online against the house1. Data extracted by investigators showed thousands of Vietnamese accounts took part in online betting; four accounts run by the ringleaders alone recorded more than 10,000 transactions worth over VND 150 billion1. Total betting transactions were initially put at over VND 1,200 billion1.
On March 26, working groups struck simultaneously and dismantled the entire arena, arresting 205 people1. Police seized more than 200 passports and travel permits and over VND 200 million in cash1. The Thanh Hoa police investigation agency has opened a case and charged 196 suspects: 60 under investigation for organizing gambling and 136 for gambling, with 147 people held in custody1. Authorities also said some of those involved showed signs of illegally detaining people and robbing property1.
"Ngày 26/3, các mũi công tác đồng loạt tấn công, triệt phá toàn bộ trường gà, bắt 205 người."
What it means for players
The case shows how cross-border cockfighting operations aimed at Vietnamese customers are structured: an arena outside Vietnam, Vietnamese organizers and staff, and an online layer that lets people bet without traveling. Under Vietnamese law, organizing gambling and gambling are both criminal offenses, and the charges here cover participants as well as organizers, not only the ringleaders1. The 136 people charged with gambling were among those present at the arena, which indicates that attending and betting at an offshore venue carries legal exposure on return or through cross-border cooperation. The online side matters separately: accounts on a website and Telegram groups were used to take bets, and investigators traced transaction data from those accounts1. Vietnam's rules on cockfighting betting and the wider gambling laws in Asia set out where such activity is permitted and where it is not; whether foreigners or locals can gamble in Vietnam depends on the venue and license.
What happens next
The case is being expanded, and the operation was run under the direct direction of Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Public Security and head of the special case committee1. No further court dates or additional arrests have been reported.
