Vietnam airport officer suspended for tearing flight ticket of Taiwanese passenger

By Ngoc Tai May 19, 2025 | 08:35 pm PT

A Taiwanese tourist holds her flight ticket which had been torn apart by an immigration officer at the Phu Quoc International Airport, May 13, 2025. Photo courtesy of Threads

A Vietnamese immigration officer has been suspended after publicly tearing up a Taiwanese tourist's flight ticket at Phu Quoc International Airport, drawing outrage on social media.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on Monday said the officer was disciplined due to "inappropriate attitude" towards tourists.

The incident happened on May 13, when a Taiwanese family of four arrived at Phu Quoc airport to complete procedures for their flight home.

The parents requested to process immigration procedures two at a time, as their two children were unwell and needed to be carried individually by each parent.

However, the officer refused the family's request and told them to wait aside.

When the family asked for clarification on when their immigration procedures could proceed, the officer abruptly snatched and tore the mother's flight ticket apart, publicly berating the family.

The distressed tourist shared the experience on social media, where it quickly gained widespread attention and criticism. Her flight ticket was subsequently reprinted.