Problem statement:

Vietnam is one of the largest sources of trafficking in the region. Vietnamese women and girls are trafficked into prostitution to neighboring countries such as Cambodia and China, and other countries in the region such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Macau as well as further fields such as UK, USA, Russia and Czech Republic. Most of these women and children are lured, tricked, deceived or coerced into exploitative situations both within and outside of Vietnam. In other countries in the region such as Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, the trafficking of Vietnamese can be seen clearly by visiting red-light area and immigration detention centers. Some estimates say that up to 30% of the females in prostitution in Cambodia is of Vietnamese origin. Most of them are between 15 to 23, however, many are also much younger. Many of the victims come for Southern Vietnamese provinces such as Long An, An Giang, Song Be, Kien Giang, Dong Thap, Can Tho as well as Ho Chi Minh City. Now the most popular way of trafficking is getting married to foreigners and work employment. Many “ghost” companies recruit Vietnamese with many promises. 

The huge problem of prostitution and its inevitable and intricate relation with trafficking is also present as an internal problem in Vietnam. Following the Report of the central interdisciplinary investigation delegation on prevention, anti prostitution, the Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City revealed that from 2001 to 30 June 2005, the functional organizations of the City had eradicated 2.932 pockets of prostitution, arrested 9.828 related persons. It is estimated that there are between 10.000 to 12.000 prostitutes in HCMC. The municipal police have actively established many investigations to discover some high rank call girl rings disguised as actresses and models. According to an authority official, each prostitute of the ring earns a sum of money up to 150.000.000 dongs (about $10.000) per month. According to the result of survey made by the Criminal Police Department- Ministry of Public Security in 2003 in 16 “hot” provinces and cities, 1.758 trafficked cases were found, of which 870 victims have been deported (49,5%), localities where many women and children were lured that are Thanh Hoa (473 cases), An Giang (350 cases), Nghe An (180 cases), Tay Ninh (116). From 1998 to 2003, the Police brought 1.347 cases to the courts with 2.357 defendants of trafficking in women and children, of which 1050 cases and 1901 defendants trafficking of women, 279 cases and 456 defendants kidnapping/ trafficking of children. 5% of prostitutes in Vietnam are children. In the last few years, only 54 Vietnamese women and children trafficked victims had been repatriated to Vietnam officially (Note from AFESIP: 46 of victims have received AFESIP repatriation support after to stay as resident in our centers). Thai government deported thousand of Cambodian persons to their origin country each year. Last year, 696 persons (of which 24 Vietnamese) were repatriated to Cambodia. Currently, 9 Cambodia women were repatriated from Indonesia. From 1996 until now, 7.656 Cambodian persons immigrated illegally to Vietnam, of that 5.164 children, returned to Cambodia unofficially.

Most of them were poor, debtors, jobless, low education, have no land for culture, victims from catastrophes but get no support in time. Currently, number of prostitutes in Cambodia is about 60.000 (Vietnamese 60%), of which:  41% work voluntarily, 15% forced by their parents, 32% cheated/ lured, 9% due to family/social troubles In Vietnam, of nearly 100.000 HIV/AIDS infected persons found up to September 2005, about 70%-75% of cases transmitted by intravenous injection. Remarkably, transmission through prostitution also has a tendency to increase (about 5%-8%), especially in the Mekong delta region and in the western of South Viet Nam, near the border to Cambodia.18% of HIV/AIDS infected persons have income reduced and 50% of them have to quit job, led to drop average 750.000 dong ($50) of income per person per month. In addition, situation of HIV/AIDS infection has brought about 24% of cared for people to quit job and 36% of others reducing benefit nearly 480.000 dong ($32) per person per month.

The figures issued by the Vietnamese Government above show the level of the problem identified. It should be born in mind that this problem is difficult to quantify and thus for every person trafficked identified, there are many that go unidentified.

VIH-AIDS

Viet Nam is experiencing an expanding HIV epidemic. Cases have been reported in all provinces, and there are a number of sub-epidemic "hot spots", including Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Can Tho.

The government had previously defined HIV as a problem of socially marginalized groups (injecting drug users and females in prostitution), but is in the process of recognizing the need for a multi-sectoral response, and to mobilize all of society for HIV/AIDS prevention, and to address stigma and discrimination. The Party Resolution and National Assembly Ordinance on HIV/AIDS was issued in 1995, and there has recently been an increase in financial allocations for HIV/AIDS and increased policy support from the Party, National Assembly and Government. Significant numbers of pilot and other projects have been undertaken at national and provincial levels by health departments, Youth Union, Women's Union and others.

In March 2004, the Prime Minister approved the first National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control up to 2010 with a vision to 2020. The National Strategy promotes a multisectoral approach to HIV/AIDS, and the mobilization of the whole society. “

Source: 2004 Report on the global AIDS epidemic.