Vietnamese women are beautiful, perhaps the most beautiful in all of Asia, but Vietnam is not Thailand. Fortunately, there is no shamelessness and commodification of sex like in Thailand. Of course, prostitution exists in all countries of the world, and Vietnam is no exception.
In Vietnam there is an explicit law that prohibits a foreigner from entertaining a Vietnamese citizen in a hotel room, unless the two are legally married. So be very, very careful and absolutely respect the laws, otherwise you run huge risks, as prison sentences for sex crimes, and not only, are severely punished, and Vietnamese prisons are certainly not 5-star hotels. And fortunately there are also very severe penalties, which can go up to the death penalty, for crimes involving pedophilia and drugs.
A vacation for sexual purposes in Vietnam therefore has no reason to exist.
In Hanoi, the capital, around 11pm, there are practically few people around, the few venues close early. The only places where there is a bit of life are Saigon and Nha Trang during the summer season. In Saigon, but also in other parts of the country, including Hanoi, there have been cases where a beautiful girl would approach a foreigner, invite him to her house or hotel, then, after about ten minutes, a man claiming to be the husband would show up, accompanied by 4 or 5 unsavory individuals armed with knives, and accuse the foreigner of being in the company of his wife for sex, so either a very large sum of money had to be paid, or it would end badly. Obviously, the girl was already in agreement in advance with the criminals to trap you and take your money, but there are dozens of tricks like this here in Vietnam, so I repeat, be very, very careful.
While older generations may still pressure them, these single ladies are embracing newfound personal freedoms. From renting их own apartments to frequenting bars and cafes, they live life on their own terms.
"My parents want grandchildren, but I'm focused on my marketing career right now," says Phuong Anh, a 32-year-old single woman working at a tech startup in Hanoi's Dong Da district.
Changing social norms have modernized dating culture as well. Dating apps like Tinder are popular, while bars and clubs in nightlife hubs like Ta Hien Street attract crowds of singles looking to mingle. Parks like Tay Ho and the Imperial Citadel also draw groups of singles for low-key meetups.
However, balancing career ambitions with traditional family duty creates challenges. Over 70% of respondents in a 2021 survey reported burnout trying to "have it all."
"There's still a lot of pressure to be a good daughter who eventually gets married," explains 28-year-old entrepreneur Minh. "I hire a housekeeper to help take care of my parents' home while I'm pursuing my business."
While deep-rooted Confucian values around marriage persist, sociologists confirm the rise of single independent women is sparking major shifts in societal gender roles and attitudes.
"This transformation of female empowerment and personal autonomy is unprecedented in Vietnam's traditionally patriarchal culture," says Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh from the Hanoi National University. "It will have profound impacts in coming decades."
As educated single working women keep reshaping the landscape, Hanoi culture bends toward a more modern, equitable future for all genders.
Hanoi Study on Gender Issues 2021 - https://hanoiwfc.gov.vn/en/study-on-gender-issues-2021
Survey on Single Working Women in Vietnam 2021 (VietnamWorks) - https://www.vietnamworks.com/research/single-working-women-survey-2021
