Many women who accept money for sex are employed primarily as waitresses, masseuses and hairdressers and would never consider themselves ''prostitutes''. In some cases, cash-strapped women are even known to resort to paying landlords in sex. The country is taking sterner action to enforce a government decree on social evils because of the rapid increase in prostitution, pornography and related crimes,'' a social evil inspection official recently announced. Clampdown campaigns are generally unannounced but often come prior to major national days or festivals. The latest, however, came in response to a directive issued by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in April, saying that ''any individuals or organizations who violate the regulations need to be strictly punished''.
Propaganda is important . . .
Aside from the ''sophisticated'' nature of the sex trade, official collusion is a hurdle. Prostitution has developed in an alarming and fairly open manner in Vietnam since 1997 . . . According to MoLISA, an ordinance is being drawn up that would impose stiffer penalties on both sex workers and their customers. Levels of punishment have yet to be announced. Many observers believe, however, that law enforcement alone has no chance of stemming the trade.