UNIAP Vietnam

The Trafficking & Migration Situation in Vietnam

Migration in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), including Vietnam, is increasing due to various factors such as uneven economic development, more open borders, demographic imbalances etc. Shared history, social relationships and ethnicity are also relevant migration factors particularly in border areas. Also, there has been a ‘feminization’ of migration particularly for domestic, agricultural and factory work, as well as for marriages.

Important aspects of the internal migration situation in Vietnam are: (1) the strong rural-to-urban migration , which will see 45% of the country’s population live in cities by 2020; (2) the major flow towards the South; and (3) the existence of the Ho Khau residence registration system , which is slowing down the migration to cities but has had a negative impact on migrants’ lives. Doi Moi has played a key role in shaping Vietnam since its introduction in the 1980s.

Vietnam is also a major source country of formally recruited laborers and by 2010 the Government expects to send approximately one million Vietnamese workers abroad. As of November 2007, there were an estimated 477,000 Vietnamese migrant workers working globally and the main destination countries are: Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan. Despite a growing body of laws and regulations concerning the recruitment and sending of workers abroad, many still end up in exploitative situations.

Research and experience to date in South-East Asia suggest that human trafficking can best be understood as “a fall-out from irregular migration”, although elements of transnational organized crime are also present.