NFS Vietnam Update – The Field


Written by Michael Brosowski
When this story first came to our attention at Not For Sale Vietnam, we immediately suspected there was something more to it.
You see, three years ago Vi Do from Blue Dragon gave a TEDx talk. Vi leads our work with street kids, specializing in finding children in abusive situations and getting them to safety.
In his talk, Vi shared a story about his experience of rescuing underage boys from a sex trafficking ring in Hanoi that operated out of… a guava field near a bus station in Hanoi.

Vietnam’s economic and social development over the years since Blue Dragon started have been impressive. There are plenty of gaps and always much more to do, but the progress has been remarkable.
And now, suddenly, the coronavirus pandemic puts all this progress at risk. We’ve seen a sharp rise in young people who are desperate. Out of jobs, their parents unemployed, and their schools unable to open, children and teens may have to choose between going hungry or heading to the streets. They may have to choose between staying at home with a family that cannot provide for them, or rolling the dice and traveling to a city far away in the hope that there’s work and food.
This inevitably means an uptick in human trafficking, homelessness, and child exploitation. The story from the guava field rings a warning bell that we urgently need to investigate.
The COVID-19 virus itself is so far well under control in Vietnam. But the damage to the livelihoods of people who were already vulnerable and poor is massive.
Without intervention, the coming months and years will see a sharp rise in exploitation of those who are hurting most. We are already seeing the evidence.
No matter what happens, we will not give up and we cannot slow down in our efforts to keep children safe.
Related Articles
Empowering Change: Aydee Chaeta’s Inspiring Journey
In the heart of Madre de Dios, a region of the Peruvian Amazon, a remarkable journey unfolds through the life of Aydee Silva Chaeta Saavedra, a beacon of hope from the Palma Real Native Community. A Decade of Dedication Over a decade ago, Palma Real sought our...
Uganda: Inspirational Video Update
🚨🎥🇺🇬 Inspiration Alert 🚨🎥🇺🇬 In 2018 Not For Sale invited refugees throughout Uganda to apply to join our Entrepreneurship Challenge where we provided training, support, and funding to help start or grow local businesses that also helped their respective communities....
Mo Farah to speak at M Restaurants charity supper in support of Not for Sale
Very cool news story in the Evening Standard (London) announcing our November 1, 2023 gala at M Restaurant. Olympic and world champion (10 times!!) runner Sir Mo Fahar will join Not For Sale President and Cofounder David Batstone and M owner/founder Martin Williams...