HANOI, July 11 - Police in Vietnam have arrested four men for taking around $30,000 in bets on Asian Cup matches, state media reported on Wednesday.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City detained four men aged between 41 and 46 on charges of organised gambling on July 9, the An Ninh Thu Do newspaper reported.

Vietnam, one of four co-hosts for the tournament, beat the United Arab Emirates 2-0 in their opening match in Hanoi on Sunday.

Soccer betting, illegal but widespread in Vietnam, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison in the communist-run country.