Prostitution in Vietnam

Sex workers weaving and dancing in a re-education center in Ho Chi Minh City, 1980

Prostitution in Vietnam is illegal and considered a serious crime.[1] Nonetheless, Vietnam's Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has estimated that there were 71,936 prostitutes in the country in 2013.[2] Other estimates puts the number at up to 200,000.[3]

Sex workers organizations report that law enforcement is abusive and corrupt.[1]

MOLISA reported that in 2011, 750 prostitutes and 300 pimps were arrested. 251 businesses had their business licenses revoked for involvement in the sex trade that year.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Sexuality, Poverty and Law Programme". Institute of Development Studies. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Sex workers: Population size estimate – Number, 2016". aidsinfoonline.org. UNAIDS. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  3. ^ Luong, Dien (13 April 2016). "Will Vietnam Legalize Prostitution?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference godwin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).