On August 22, Hanoi authorities transferred the first 17 children and 14 elderly people to Thuy An Centre following the child-trafficking case at Bo De Pagoda.

One child, who is HIV positive, will be moved to Social Protection Centre no.2. Dang Van Bat, deputy head of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said both disabled and healthy children would be transferred simultaneously. The authorities will continue to try to find the families of the remaining children. If their relatives do not take them back, they will be moved to social centres.

Bo De Pagoda was housing a total of 194 people, including disadvantaged children, disabled people, the elderly and the homeless. On August 19, the inspection team from Hanoi People's Committee and Long Bien District People's Committee concluded that Bo De Pagoda has not been given license and failed to meet requirements to function as a orphanage or social centre.

In total, 80 out of the 92 children do not have birth certificates. Moreover, there are 21 children and 3 elders whose names were on the inspection list, but who were not at the pagoda. The investigation determined that most children have been taken back by their biological parents. The elderly and some children were moved to social protection centres and other pagodas.

The pagoda did not cooperated fully with authorities who are attempting to manage the future care of these children.

 Children at Bo De Pagoda

Boarding the bus