Police officers were seen at several stores of major jeweler and gold trading firm Bao Tin Minh Chau in Hanoi on Wednesday afternoon.
Police arrived at two outlets on Tran Nhan Tong Street and another on Cau Giay Street at around 1:00 p.m., after which the stores shuttered.
By 5:00 p.m., officers at one of the Tran Nhan Tong stores were seen loading several boxes of documents on to their vehicles. Police were still present at all three outlets at the time.
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A Bao Tin Minh Chau outlet on Cau Giay Street, Hanoi, March 25, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Linh Dan |
A Bao Tin Minh Chau employee said the business was undergoing an inspection, so trading was paused in the afternoon.
“We have not received any information or notice from authorities,” the person said.
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Bao Tin Minh Chau’s outlet at 29 Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hanoi, on the afternoon of March 25, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Trong Hieu |
Bao Tin Minh Chau is one of the major gold trading businesses in Hanoi, founded in 1995 by entrepreneur Vu Minh Chau.
It currently operates four outlets in the city and has more than 200 agents nationwide.
It had a charter capital of VND400 billion (US$15.8 million) as of Jan. 26, with Chau holding more than 97%.
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Bao Tin Minh Chau’s outlet at 15 Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hanoi, on the afternoon of March 25, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Trong Hieu |
Since the start of the year, long lines of customers queuing to buy gold have become a common sight at gold shops and jewelry stores across Hanoi, despite volatile prices.
Many are only allowed to purchase small quantities, or must wait until a later date to receive their gold.
