Lieutenant General Mai Hoang, director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy director and head of the city’s Criminal Investigation Agency, directly supervised the operation to track down the two foreign suspects responsible for the shooting.
Vaa Vaa, born in 1999 and identified as the gunman, along with alleged accomplice Tafia Steve, born in 2003, both Samoa nationals, were urgently arrested by Ho Chi Minh City police on murder charges. Eight Vietnamese nationals were also detained for allegedly failing to report the crime and assisting the suspects in their attempt to flee.
Lieutenant Colonel Hung said the successful arrest was the result of close coordination between Ho Chi Minh City Police, the Ministry of Public Security and police forces in several provinces. Around 1,000 officers were mobilized to trace the suspects’ movements before both men were arrested near the Vietnam-Cambodia border and brought back to Ho Chi Minh City for further investigation.
Investigators identified escape route early
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung directly supervises the investigation and manhunt. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
According to Lieutenant Colonel Hung, after receiving reports on the evening of May 21 about a shooting on Truong Dinh Street in Ben Thanh Ward that left one Australian citizen dead and another injured, Ho Chi Minh City Police immediately classified the case as especially serious.
Authorities quickly sealed off the scene, identified the victims, collected evidence and reported the case to the Ministry of Public Security.
Investigators initially determined that the incident appeared to be a targeted attack involving foreign nationals. Security cameras outside Cee’f seafood restaurant, where the victims had just finished dinner before the shooting, captured the entire incident. Additional surveillance footage from surrounding streets helped police quickly identify the suspects.
From the beginning, investigators believed the suspects would attempt to flee Vietnam immediately after the attack. However, authorities assessed that the men were unlikely to escape through Tan Son Nhat International Airport and instead would likely head toward the Cambodian border by land.
Vaa Vaa, identified as the gunman. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Tafia Steve, the alleged accomplice. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Using investigative techniques and digital mapping systems at the city police command center, officers determined that after the shooting, the suspects fled on foot before taking a taxi to escape.
Police units across Ho Chi Minh City were ordered to establish checkpoints and review surveillance footage across multiple routes to trace the suspects’ movements.
Within 24 hours of the shooting, investigators identified Vaa Vaa and Tafia Steve, confirming they had entered Vietnam through Tan Son Nhat International Airport less than a week earlier. Authorities also correctly predicted from the outset that the suspects were heading toward Tay Ninh Province in an attempt to cross into Cambodia.
1,000 officers deployed in massive manhunt
Lieutenant Colonel Hung said authorities mobilized 1,000 officers from Ho Chi Minh City Police, Ministry of Public Security units and Tay Ninh provincial police to intercept the suspects. Most forces focused on the Vietnam-Cambodia border while others spread out to block alternative escape routes.
During the pursuit, investigators found that the suspects had taken a taxi toward the border area. However, after getting out near Co.opmart Trang Bang in Tay Ninh Province, they temporarily disappeared from sight.
Police said the suspects used sophisticated methods during their escape, including changing their appearance and employing counter-surveillance tactics. Investigators also credited valuable information provided by local residents for helping locate the pair.
Ultimately, both Vaa Vaa and Tafia Steve were arrested near the Vietnam-Cambodia border less than 72 hours after the shooting and transported back to Ho Chi Minh City for investigation.
During questioning, Vaa Vaa admitted to carrying out the shooting and expressed remorse. Tafia Steve told investigators: “Although we carefully planned our escape in Vietnam after committing the crime, we failed and I accept responsibility before the law. I want to advise anyone thinking about coming to Vietnam to commit crimes to abandon the idea immediately because Vietnamese police will definitely catch you.”
Lieutenant General Mai Hoang said the arrests highlighted the critical role of local police forces in monitoring their areas and gathering intelligence, as well as the importance of information provided by the public. He also praised the close coordination between Ho Chi Minh City Police, Ministry of Public Security units and local police agencies..
Lieutenant General Mai Hoang and Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung directly interrogate the suspects. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police
Lieutenant General Mai Hoang speaks at a press briefing on May 26. Photo: Dam De
The Ho Chi Minh City police chief emphasized that both Vietnamese citizens and foreigners must respect Vietnamese law and that anyone violating the law on Vietnamese territory would face strict punishment. He added that suspects who cooperate with investigators may receive leniency under Vietnamese law.
Authorities said the investigation is continuing and additional suspects linked to the case are still being pursued.
Dam De
Vietnamnet.vn
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