Vietnamese sex websites are causing a stir, affecting not only those who intentionally visit these sites but also individuals who are unaware of their existence. Many people find their names and phone numbers listed as “bait” for those seeking illicit encounters. Meanwhile, authorities seem powerless against this issue.
One night, while both Tâm and her husband were sound asleep, Tâm’s phone buzzed with a series of messages. Tâm ignored it and continued sleeping, but her husband, feeling annoyed, picked up her phone to see who was disturbing them. After reading the message, he became furious, throwing the phone towards Tâm and shouting: “M. what the hell! Lately, you’ve been chatting too much and have become reckless. Why is there a kid messaging you, waiting at a hotel on Hàng Gà street?“.
Tâm, confused about what was happening, got up to read the message: “Sister, I saw your post on the gaigoi… website. I know you work at the embassy and earn a lot of money, but your emotional needs are lacking since your husband is ‘disabled’… I understand your needs, and I’m willing to ‘serve’ you. I’m at hotel H… number … on Hàng Gà street“. At this point, Tâm was utterly bewildered.
Desperate to understand, Tâm searched online for the site the “kid” mentioned and found an ad titled “looking for a healthy lover” with disturbingly inappropriate messages: “I’m Tâm, 27 years old, working at the embassy… I’m married but have strong sexual needs, and my husband is disabled… I’m looking for someone with similar interests, please call me at 091235xxxx“. This was indeed Tâm’s phone number, and it even included her workplace address, leaving her in shock. To make matters worse, the ad would remain active for nearly a month before being taken down. After some discussion, Tâm’s husband started to understand the situation better, but they both couldn’t sleep that night, their minds racing with suspicions about who could have posted Tâm’s information online.
The following day, Tâm’s phone continued to receive similar lewd messages from various numbers. They decided that turning off the phone was the safest option. For over ten days now, even though the phone was an important work tool and many people were accustomed to contacting Tâm through that number, they had to suffer the consequences of being unable to reach her. Despite filtering through numerous “suspects,” Tâm and her husband could not identify who had posted her phone number on that disgusting website.
The site gaigoi…com is a pornographic platform that has attracted a significant number of young teenagers. In addition to adult film and photo accounts, it features classified ads for cities across Vietnam, resembling crude personal ads looking for lovers. For example, one ad from someone named “poor student” reads: “I’m a student from the province coming to the city to study. I’m not a prostitute, but due to my family’s financial situation, I’m willing to please all gentlemen. Contact me at 09083XXX…“. Another ad from a user named “traingheo” states: “I serve all ladies. My family is poor, so I have to do this. I hope ladies will contact me; I’m willing to travel, and I will do my best to satisfy you, call me at 091993xxxx“.
However, most individuals posting these personal ads are unaware that their information has been posted on this site. It is only when they receive calls “inquiry” about the ads that they realize they have been “set up” by someone. As a result, nearly 98% of the phone numbers listed in this section are currently “out of service” due to fear of unforeseen consequences.
In addition to posting content, this website links to 20 other pornographic websites in Vietnamese such as Vietfun, coimong, and vietsex. Moreover, it connects with all online newspapers in Vietnamese in Vietnam, potentially misleading many people. The server for this website is located overseas and managed by four administrators, with rumors suggesting there is a local representative in Vietnam.
Mr. Trần Văn Hòa, Head of the High-Tech Crime Prevention Department under the Ministry of Public Security, stated: “According to the latest statistics at an international conference on high-tech crime prevention held in Singapore, the total revenue from the sex website industry equals that of the music industry. In most countries, adult sex websites are not prohibited, and servers displaying sexual content online are quite common, unless they involve child pornography“.
Vietnamese sex websites are primarily disseminated from abroad, with servers located overseas. Therefore, despite Vietnamese laws prohibiting sexual content online, authorities currently have no means to prevent such sites. Hacking into the system to block it with a firewall is also impossible, as law enforcement agencies are not permitted to do so.
As for websites with unhealthy or pornographic content hosted in Vietnam, they cannot survive, according to Mr. Hòa, as technology and the capabilities of law enforcement against this type of crime in Vietnam are highly regarded and comparable to any country.
In mid-May, a website at vn-vn.com was shut down for linking to sex sites and spreading viruses online. The owner, Nguyễn Di An, former Director of Hồng An Ltd., residing in Hội Xương, Diên Khánh, Khánh Hòa, was fined a substantial amount.
