After the recent leakage of Bui Doi Cho Lon or Chinatown film on internet, many pirated discs of the film are widely sold in Hanoi and HCM City.

A pirated disc of Bui Doi Cho Lon sold in Hanoi

They cost an average of only VND10,000 (USD0.50) each.

An investigative journalist in Hanoi found that several disc stores along Hang Bai and Thinh Yen Streets as well as Cho Troi market were selling pirated DVDs of the film.

They, however, didn’t display the discs on the shelves or advertise it with a poster. They just took out the discs whenever customers asked for them.

Some store owners along Thinh Yen Street said they could sell hundreds of copies each morning and the majority of the buyers were young people.

Some stores on the street refuse to sell retail, only accepting customers willing to buy ten or more.

“While the investor of the VND16-billion (USD760,600) film earns no royalties of these banned transactions, stores are making quite a lot," said one store owner.

In HCM City, the trading seems to be more open, and the discs are openly displayed. The covers do not list the real producers of the film, however.

Pham Dinh Thang, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Art Performing Department said the Cinema Department is responsible for dealing with bootlegs.

Leaders from the Cinema Department have yet to make any comment.

After the film was uploaded to the internet, Thien Ngan Company and Chanh Phuong Studios have called for relevant agencies to investigate and find culprit.

According to an undisclosed source, they have found the real culprit but refused to reveal their identity or motives.

The investigative agency is continuing the investigation before coming to the final conclusion.

Vu Xuan Thanh, the ministry’s Chief Inspector, said “We’ve received a report on the incident and organised a meeting to work on the case on July 8.”

The incident has stirred up public concerns over the protection of film copyright as well as the management of content uploaded to internet.

Several members of the public suggested banning and revoking of pirated discs in Hanoi and HCM City.