A transnational cockfighting ring led by a married couple was dismantled; police have indicted 196 suspects and seized numerous related pieces of evidence.

On the afternoon of April 24, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police announced that the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, the representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in Laos, and this province’s police had coordinated with the authorities of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to dismantle the ‘Vieng Xay international cockfighting arena.’

This is a large-scale gambling and gambling operation under the guise of cockfighting, operating transnationally with a total transaction volume exceeding 1,200 billion VND.

Police investigation results show that the Vieng Xay international cockfighting arena in Houaphanh Province (Laos), bordering Thanh Hoa Province, was an organized crime ring operating with sophisticated methods, a professional nature, and transnational reach, gathering many criminal elements.

Although this cockfighting arena operated outside Vietnamese territory, it attracted a large number of Vietnamese gamblers to cross the border to gamble. The suspects organized the gambling and betting in a secretive manner.

To date, police have determined that the Vieng Xay international cockfighting arena was led by a 47-year-old man residing in Ha Dong ward, Hanoi city, along with his wife, who collaborated with other suspects to organize and operate it.

To attract players, the suspects invested in building dining areas and multiple rest rooms within the premises to cater to the needs of participants.

When players won bets, the organizers collected a 5% commission to maintain operations and distribute profits.

Cockfighting arena - Image 2.

This ring was organized and operated using a multi-tiered model, with specific task assignments among different departments.

In this structure, the wife was the general manager, directly overseeing the reception, cashier, accounting, filming and commentary, security, and canteen departments.

According to the cash flow analysis results, police have so far determined that the gambling transaction volume at the Vieng Xay international cockfighting arena exceeded 1,200 billion VND.

Police seized numerous pieces of evidence and documents related to the case, including: 36 cars, 186 mobile phones, various electronic devices and documents, 23 fighting cocks, 208 passports and travel documents, over 205 million VND in cash, and froze more than 5 billion VND in related accounts.

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Vieng Xay international cockfighting arena

The Vieng Xay international cockfighting arena is a notable venue in Laos known for hosting large-scale cockfighting events that attract participants and spectators from across Southeast Asia. While cockfighting has deep cultural roots in the region as a traditional pastime, the arena itself lacks a well-documented historical record, though it likely emerged as a modern commercial hub for the sport in recent decades. The site reflects ongoing local interest in this controversial practice, which remains legal in Laos despite ethical debates.

Houaphanh Province

Houaphanh Province, located in northeastern Laos, is historically significant as a stronghold of the Pathet Lao during the Laotian Civil War. It is home to the Vieng Xai Caves, a vast network of limestone caves that served as a hidden underground city and headquarters for revolutionary leaders from the 1960s to the 1970s. Today, the province is known for its rugged natural beauty, traditional ethnic villages, and preserved revolutionary history.

Thanh Hoa Province

Thanh Hoa Province, located in north-central Vietnam, is a historically significant region known as the birthplace of several Vietnamese dynasties, including the Later Lê Dynasty. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, a 14th-century stone fortress built under the Hồ dynasty. The province also played a key role in resistance wars against foreign invaders, most notably during the Vietnam War with the iconic Hàm Rồng Bridge.

Ha Dong ward

Ha Dong is a ward located in the city of Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Historically, it was part of a region known for its agricultural roots and has developed into a residential and commercial area as the city expanded. Today, it serves as a local administrative unit and community hub within the growing urban landscape of Thanh Hoa.

Hanoi city

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is one of Southeast Asia’s oldest cities, founded over a thousand years ago in 1010 under the name Thang Long. It served as the capital of French Indochina and later became the capital of a unified Vietnam in 1976. Today, the city is known for its rich cultural heritage, blending ancient temples and colonial architecture with modern development.