Sex trafficking in Vietnam

Vietnamese citizens, primarily women and girls, have been sex trafficked into other countries in Asia and there have been cases of even in different continents such as Europe.

Male and female perpetrators come from a wide range of backgrounds and a number are members of or facilitated by organized crime syndicates and gangs.

Efforts to enforce sex trafficking laws and investigate cases have been commonly in the past affected by challenges including corruption, insufficient cooperation between sectors, border management issues, and gaps in anti-trafficking legislation, though the government is actively trying to combat it.

[13] Additionally, the increased regional integration under the Association of South East Asian Nations which allows for freer movement of trade and capital, may present new challenges in addressing sex trafficking.

[29] Vietnamese women predominantly ethnic minorities and girls are sex trafficked into China,[30][31][10] Hong Kong,[32] Cambodia,[16] Malaysia,[33][34] the Philippines, Taiwan,[8][35] South Korea[36] and other nations.

[4] Some women and girls have been trafficked to groups of men, who are poor and pool their money together to buy one wife.

[41] Vietnamese victims have been sex trafficked to businesses catering to people seeing the Southeast Asian Games and other sporting events.

Loan sharks have been involved in sex trafficking as well and take advantage of debt bondage to control their victims.

[45] [46][31] Traffickers use chat sites and social networks such as Facebook and Zalo, a popular Vietnamese messaging app.

The government had inadequate re-integration services, therapeutic support, legal and financial assistance, and education for victims.

[41] Blue Dragon Children's Foundation rescues and restores sex trafficked victims in the country.

[48] Pacific Links Foundation is an organization working to end sex trafficking in Vietnam through education and economic empowerment.