In its document sent to the agencies, the MIC said that recently it had observed negative information about the image of Vietnam and Hanoi in particular which came from reports about a number of sexual harassment cases targeting foreign women in the West Lake area, Quang An ward, Tay Ho district, Hanoi.

This affects the safety of people and foreigners living and working in Vietnam and harms the reputation and image of the country.

The MIC requested the Ministry of Public Security and the People's Committee of Hanoi to direct the Hanoi City Police and relevant agencies to quickly investigate and handle the situation.

The three men involved in sexual assault or harassment against foreign women. Photo: Hanoi Police

It is reported that between late January and late February, some youngsters wearing face masks and driving motorbikes near West Lake assaulted many foreign women, as well as Vietnamese girls.

The assaults and attacks on foreigners in this area has scared many foreign women about the West Lake area and discouraged them from going outside in the evening.

Specifically, Tay Ho District authorities received reports from four foreign women saying that they were sexually assaulted by young males driving motorbikes with covered licence plates.

Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh immediately directed the Hanoi Police to urgently investigate and strictly deal with these cases.

Hanoi police immediately started an investigation and tracked down a group of people accused of sexually harassing at least four foreign women in West Lake area.

On March 5, Hanoi police summoned three young men suspected of being involved in these cases. They are all male juveniles, including a 15-year-old and two 16-year-old boys residing in Cau Giay District in Hanoi.

They confessed to committing the acts as reported by victims, the police said. The police are expanding their investigation.

Tay Ho Police said they are deploying police officers in plain clothes and setting up more surveillance cameras in some target locations in West Lake to avoid similar incidents.

Also on March 5, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh asked the Hanoi People’s Committee to direct agencies to quickly investigate and strictly handle the perpetrators, and publicize their investigation results.

Mai Trong Thang, head of Tay Ho District’s police division noted that it is hard to catch criminals if victims refuse to report the case to the police. He called on those who were victims of similar attacks to report immediately and coordinate with the investigation agency to find the culprit.

Tay Ho district remains a popular place among Hanoi’s expat community, with many foreigners and foreign organizations renting property to live or work there.

Moc Mien

Hanoi leader requests full investigation into sexual assaults against foreign women

Mayor of Hanoi capital Chu Ngoc Anh has directed the Hanoi Police to urgently investigate and strictly handle sexual assaults against foreign women in the West Lake area in Tay Ho District.