US embassy cable - 02HANOI2845

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HANOI 002845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SOCI, PGOV, KHIV, VM, HIV/AIDS, TIP 
SUBJECT:  SEX AND THE CITY -- HANOI STYLE 
 
REF:  01 HANOI 735 
 
1.  (U)  SUMMARY.  THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM (CPV) AND 
GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM (GVN) ADMIT THAT PROSTITUTION IS A 
MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE COUNTRY.  DISCOS, KARAOKE BARS, 
MASSAGE PARLORS, AND OTHER "FUN" LOCATIONS EVEN IN STAID 
HANOI INCREASINGLY OFFER PROFESSIONAL OR SEMI-PROFESSIONAL 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  02845  01 OF 03  261021Z 
SEX SERVICES FOR SALE.  APART FROM LAMENTING THE PROBLEM, 
OFFICIALS APPEAR TO DO LITTLE TO REMEDY THIS SOCIAL EVIL -- 
PARTLY DUE TO CORRUPTION BUT PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY 
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT BE SURE WHETHER THE PUBLIC WOULD RATHER 
CONTINUE TO ENJOY SUCH NEWFOUND FREEDOMS OR WELCOME A 
CLAMPDOWN AND RETURN TO "SOCIALIST MORALITY." 
UNFORTUNATELY, THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF THE GROWING SEX 
INDUSTRY ARE NO JOKE, WITH HIV/AIDS INFECTIONS RISING 
STEADILY (ALTHOUGH OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT THE 
LARGE MAJORITY OF INFECTIONS STEM FROM INTRAVENOUS DRUG 
USE).  TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS RELATED TO PROSTITUTION ALSO 
REMAINS A SERIOUS ISSUE OF CONCERN TO THE GVN, ALTHOUGH MORE 
IN VIETNAM DUE TO THE EXPORT OF WOMEN THAN TO THE DOMESTIC 
MARKET (REFTEL).  THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT HANOI NIGHTLIFE 
AND SOCIETY INCREASINGLY RESEMBLE THE REST OF SOUTHEAST 
ASIAN CITIES -- ESPECIALLY HO CHI MINH CITY.   END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U)  THE COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE SEVENTH 
PLENUM OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM (CPV) 9TH CONGRESS 
ON NOVEMBER 9 ADMITTED "URGENT SOCIAL PROBLEMS" THAT NEED TO 
BE ADDRESSED, NOTABLY "SOCIAL EVILS SUCH AS DRUG ADDICTION, 
PROSTITUTION, AND CRIME" AS WELL AS CORRUPTION.  SIMILARLY, 
PRIME MINISTER PHAN VAN KHAI, IN OPENING REMARKS TO THE 
SECOND SESSION OF THE 11TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON NOVEMBER 12, 
REFERRED TO "URGENT SOCIAL ISSUES" AND POINTED IN PARTICULAR 
TO "DRUG ADDICTION, PROSTITUTION AND CRIME."   NEITHER ARE 
BRAND-NEW THEMES FOR SENIOR CPV AND GVN OFFICIALS, BUT THEIR 
PROMINENCE IN THESE KEYNOTE ADDRESSES -- AS WELL AS THE 
TOTAL ABSENCE OF PROPOSED SOLUTIONS -- REFLECT THE NOW "IN 
YOUR FACE," ENDEMIC NATURE OF THESE PROBLEMS IN THE VIETNAM 
OF THE 21ST CENTURY. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02845  01 OF 03  261021Z 
 
3.  (U)  HANOI HAS A REPUTATION OF BEING THE DOUR 
BUREAUCRATIC OLDER BROTHER OF THE MORE FLASHY HO CHI MINH 
CITY; THIS CHARACTERIZATION IS NOT FAR OFF THE MARK.  BUT 
OVER THE PAST DECADE, WITH RISING INCOMES, GROWING PERSONAL 
FREEDOMS, AND DIMINISHING PUBLIC SECURITY INTRUSIONS INTO 
PERSONAL LIVES, AT LEAST MANY HANOI RESIDENTS HAVE AGAIN -- 
OR FOR THE FIRST TIME -- BEEN ABLE TO INDULGE IN RANGE OF 
SEXUAL LICENSE THAT WOULD MAKE HO CHI MINH AND HIS 
REVOLUTIONARY CONFRERES TURN OVER IN THEIR GRAVES.  (OR 
MAYBE NOT; RUMORS CONTINUE TO PERSIST ABOUT CPV GENERAL 
SECRETARY NONG DUC MANH BEING THE ILLEGITIMATE SON OF UNCLE 
 
SIPDIS 
HO AND ONE OF HIS SERVANTS.) 
 
------------ 
DISCO LIVES! 
------------ 
 
4.  (U)  AT LEAST THREE DISCOS IN HANOI CATER TO THE WELL- 
HEELED TWENTY- AND THIRTY-SOMETHING VIETNAMESE OF HANOI; 
ALL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SPORT ENGLISH NAMES:  "NEW 
CENTURY," "MAGIC MOO," AND "SPARK."  ANOTHER, "APOCALYPSE 
NOW," CATERS PRIMARILY TO A WESTERN CROWD BUT HAS A SIZEABLE 
AND APPARENTLY INCREASING PERCENTAGE OF LOCALS.  COGNAC -- 
AT PRICES THAT IN THE COURSE OF AN EVENING COULD EASILY EAT 
UP THE ANNUAL PER CAPITA INCOME OF THE AVERAGE VIETNAMESE -- 
AND BEER ARE THE BEVERAGES OF CHOICE.  CONVENTIONAL WISDOM 
HOLDS THAT "NEW CENTURY" IS ALSO A POPULAR SITE FOR DRUG 
PURCHASES AND EVEN USAGE, ESPECIALLY OF METHAMPHETAMINES. 
 
5.  (U)  WHAT ALL THESE CLUBS HAVE IN COMMON ARE, UNUSUALLY 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02845  01 OF 03  261021Z 
FOR VIETNAM, LARGE NUMBERS OF UNACCOMPANIED YOUNG LADIES WHO 
ARE REMARKABLY FRIENDLY TO STRANGE MEN.  MANY, ESPECIALLY IN 
THE UPSCALE "NEW CENTURY," EVEN SPORT LONG, SLINKY EVENING 
GOWNS (WHICH MUST BE A TRICK TO WEAR WHEN ARRIVING BY 
MOTORCYCLE, AS VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE CLIENTELE DOES).  BASIC 
POLITENESS REQUIRES GENTLEMEN WHO DANCE WITH THEM TO BUY AT 
LEAST ONE DRINK PER DANCE; EVERYTHING FROM THERE ON OUT 
APPEARS NEGOTIABLE.  UNLIKE THE MIDNIGHT CURFEW THAT HAS HIT 
HO CHI MINH CITY'S DISCO SCENE IN RECENT YEARS, HANOI'S 
CLUBS STAY OPEN -- AND OFTEN STRANGELY FULL -- INTO THE 
EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK. 
 
----------------- 
SING, SING A SONG 
----------------- 
 
6.  (U)  KARAOKE HAS EXPLODED ONTO THE HANOI SCENE WITH A 
VENGEANCE; THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF KARAOKE BARS -- 
VIRTUALLY ALL PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED -- SCATTERED 
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.  THEY RANGE FROM LUXURY ESTABLISHMENTS 
AT THE DAEWOO AND FORTUNA HOTELS TO BARE MINIMUM HUTS ALONG 
THE ROAD TO THE AIRPORT AND ELSEWHERE.  THE MAIN ROAD NORTH 
OUT OF HANOI THROUGH ITS GIA LAM DISTRICT -- JUST ACROSS THE 
DOWNTOWN CITY BRIDGE SPANNING THE RED RIVER -- IS KNOWN BY 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2625 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  02845  02 OF 03  261022Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   EVG-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00 
      DS-00    ED-01    FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  OES-00   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /008W 
                  ------------------0E92E1  261022Z /38 
R 260957Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8196 
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 HANOI 002845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
LOCALS AS "HONG KONG HANOI" DUE TO ITS HEAVY CONCENTRATION 
OF KARAOKE BARS AND OTHER "ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS."  MOST OF 
THESE KARAOKE BARS CARRY THE FULL RANGE OF SONGS, INCLUDING 
NOT ONLY VIETNAMESE FAVORITES BUT ALSO A SURPRISINGLY BROAD 
SELECTION OF ENGLISH, CHINESE, AND KOREAN TUNES.  (RANDOM 
SAMPLINGS SUGGEST THAT THE NUMBER OF HANOI RESIDENTS WHO 
KNOW "SEALED WITH A KISS" AND "UNCHAINED MELODY" IN ENGLISH 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  02845  02 OF 03  261022Z 
FAR OUTNUMBERS COUNTERPART GROUPS IN THE U.S.)  MOST KARAOKE 
OFFER AT LEAST ONE -- IN SOME CASES, DOZENS -- OF PRIVATE 
ROOMS FOR MORE DISCREET CROONING. 
 
7.  (U)  PROBABLY BECAUSE SINGING CAN BE A LONELY BUSINESS, 
MANY KARAOKE BARS EMPLOY A STABLE OF USUALLY VERY GOOD- 
LOOKING "HOSTESSES," WHOSE SINGING ABILITIES VARY 
CONSIDERABLY.  VIETNAMESE CALL THIS KIND OF KARAOKE BARS 
"KARAOKE OM" -- CUDDLE KARAOKE.  THE HOSTESSES ARE GENEROUS 
WITH THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR OTHERWISE UNTALENTED RENDITIONS OF 
POPULAR TUNES, BUT ALSO WILLING -- NAY, EAGER -- TO KEEP THE 
MALE SINGERS WARM AGAINST THE CHILL OF AIR CONDITIONED ROOMS 
IN THE HANOI HEAT.  MOST, ACCORDING TO ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, 
ARE ALSO QUITE WILLING TO GET OFF WORK EARLY TO GO ON TO 
OTHER NOCTURNAL ACTIVITIES, IN EXCHANGE FOR CERTAIN MONETARY 
COMPENSATIONS. 
 
----------------------- 
RELAX -- THE "THAI" WAY 
----------------------- 
 
8.  (U)  A REAL BOON FOR HANOI RESIDENTS WITH BAD BACKS OR 
STIFF NECKS, INTER ALIA, HAS BEEN THE PROLIFERATION OVER THE 
PAST SEVERAL YEARS OF AT LEAST HUNDREDS OF MASSAGE CENTERS, 
OFTEN HIGHLIGHTING THE FACT THAT THEY OFFER "THAI-STYLE" 
MASSAGES.  (ODDLY, THE VIETNAMESE TERM "XOA BOP" IS 
GRADUALLY GIVING WAY IN THE LINGUA FRANCA AS WELL AS ON 
SIGNS TO A MORE VIET-ENGLISH "MASSAT" OR THE STRAIGHTFORWARD 
USE OF THE ENGLISH WORD.)  AN ASTONISHINGLY HIGH PERCENTAGE 
OF THESE MASSEUSES APPEAR TO BE ATTRACTIVE YOUNG LADIES, 
MANY OF WHOM CLAIM TO BE FROM OUT OF TOWN.  (FOR SOME 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02845  02 OF 03  261022Z 
REASON, MANY DESCRIBE THEMSELVES AS SAIGON NATIVES; MAYBE 
THEY ARE.)  VIRTUALLY ALL APPARENTLY OFFER PRIVATE ROOMS, 
SOME WITH ATTACHED BATHS.  ONE NEW MULTI-STORY 
"ENTERTAINMENT CENTER," WHOSE ELABORATE STATUARY AND OTHER 
DECORATION HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED BY SOME OBSERVERS AS "CLASSIC 
BROTHEL STYLE," IS JUST A COUPLE OF DOORS DOWN THE STREET 
FROM THE US EMBASSY AND WAS REPORTEDLY BUILT AT A PRIVATE 
INVESTMENT OF SEVERAL MILLION US DOLLARS.  IT INCLUDES NOT 
ONLY SEVERAL FLOORS OF INDIVIDUAL MASSAGE ROOMS BUT ALSO 
SAUNAS, A SMALL SWIMMING POOL, SEVERAL RESTAURANTS, A BAR, 
AND A KARAOKE LOUNGE, AS WELL AS SOME OFFICES AND APARTMENTS 
NOW AVAILABLE FOR RENT. 
 
9.  (U)  ACCORDING TO MANY HABITUS OF THE MASSAGE SCENE, 
THE MAIN ATTRACTION IS NOT THE MASSAGE ITSELF OR EVEN OF 
OTHER PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES ON THE PREMISES.  RATHER, THE 
ATTRACTION IS THE WILLINGNESS OF THE MASSEUSES TO "GO OUT" 
WITH THE CLIENT AFTERWARDS.  HOWEVER, SOME MANAGERS 
QUAINTLY PROMISE "HAPPY ENDING MASSAGES" TO WOULD-BE MALE 
CLIENTS AT THEIR MASSAGE CENTERS. 
 
------------------ 
REST FOR THE WEARY 
------------------ 
 
10.  (U)  WHERE ARE ALL THESE NEWLY FORMED COUPLES HEADING? 
TO ONE OF THE SEEMINGLY UBIQUITOUS "NHA NGHI" -- REST HOUSES 
-- THAT DOT THE URBAN (AND MORE AND MORE, EVEN THE RURAL) 
LANDSCAPE.  AGAIN, MOST ARE SMALL ESTABLISHMENTS, PRIVATELY 
OWNED, AND ASK FEW QUESTIONS OF THEIR GUESTS, UNLIKE HOTELS 
AND GUESTHOUSES, WHICH USUALLY REQUIRE THE DEPOSIT OF A 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02845  02 OF 03  261022Z 
GOVERNMENT ID CARD AND/OR FOREIGN PASSPORT TO RENT A ROOM. 
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THESE "REST HOUSES" OFTEN OFFER ROOMS BY 
THE HOUR FOR THOSE QUICK NAPS -- OR TRYSTS.  AT ABOUT USD 7 
AN HOUR, THEY ARE NOT ONE OF THE BEST BARGAINS IN HANOI, BUT 
ARE NOT OUT OF THE RANGE OF THE LOCAL CLIENTELE.  SOME, BUT 
PROBABLY NOT EVEN MOST, OFFER YOUNG HOSTESSES OF THEIR OWN 
FOR OTHER SERVICES. 
 
11.  (U)  ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE -- INCLUDING FROM THE USUALLY 
RELIABLE STAPLE OF POLOFFS EVERYWHERE, TAXI DRIVERS -- 
INDICATE THAT THE COST OF SHORT-TIME SEXUAL SERVICES RANGE 
FROM 100,000 VIETNAMESE DONG (USD 7) UPWARD.  VIETNAMESE MEN 
CALL STEPPING OUT FOR ONE OF THESE EXTRAMARITAL LIAISONS 
"EATING PHO" (THE CLASSIC VIETNAMESE NOODLE SOUP), IN 
CONTRAST TO "EATING RICE" AT HOME.  AS IN OTHER ASIAN 
CULTURES, MANY HANOI MEN TEND TO GO OFF AND "EAT PHO" ALONG 
WITH THEIR BUDDIES, RATHER THAN ON THEIR OWN, OFTEN AFTER AN 
EVENING IN A BEER HALL AND/OR KARAOKE AND/OR MASSAGE.  WHILE 
OF COURSE MANY -- PERHAPS EVEN MOST -- HANOI MEN MAY NEVER 
ENGAGE IN THIS STILL ILLEGAL PASTIME, RANDOM SAMPLES SUGGEST 
THAT MANY MALES DO SO ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, AND THAT THE FIRST 
SEXUAL EXPERIENCE OF MOST HANOI MEN PROBABLY TAKES ONE OF 
THESE FORMS. 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTQ2627 
 
PAGE 01        HANOI  02845  03 OF 03  261022Z 
ACTION EAP-00 
 
INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   EVG-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00 
      DS-00    ED-01    FBIE-00  UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01 
      TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    L-00     VCE-00   AC-01    NSAE-00 
      NSCE-00  OES-00   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PM-00    PRS-00 
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  PMB-00 
      DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00     /008W 
                  ------------------0E92FB  261022Z /38 
R 260957Z NOV 02 
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI 
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8197 
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE 
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI 
 
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 03 HANOI 002845 
 
SIPDIS 
 
---------------- 
DOWN BY THE LAKE 
---------------- 
 
12.  (U)  HANOI'S NUMEROUS SMALL LAKES, WHICH USUALLY HAVE 
ATTRACTIVE PARKS AROUND THEM, OFFER CHARMING LOCATIONS FOR 
BOTH PRO- AND NON-PRO SEXUAL ACTIVITIES.  THE LARGE LAKESIDE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 02        HANOI  02845  03 OF 03  261022Z 
LENIN PARK FAIRLY TEEMS IN THE EVENING HOURS WITH YOUNG 
COUPLES SEEKING A PRIVATE SPOT FOR A BENCH -- OR IN THE 
BUSHES.  (DRUG USE HERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM; USED SYRINGES DOT 
THE PARK, AND THE BENCHES ARE FULL OF SLEEPING ADDICTS AT 
ALL HOURS.)  EXPAT FOLKLORE HAS IT THAT THIS PARK WAS A 
CENTER FOR FURTIVE HOMOSEXUAL ENCOUNTERS AS LONG AGO AS THE 
EARLY 1980S.  NOWADAYS, THE HOAN KIEM LAKE (LAKE OF THE 
RETURNED SWORD) -- THE SPIRITUAL IF NO LONGER PHYSICAL 
CENTER OF DOWNTOWN HANOI -- OFFERS AGGRESSIVELY FRIENDLY 
YOUNG MEN COURTING CLIENTS; EMBASSY ADVICE TO TRAVELERS IS 
TO STAY OUT OF THE PUBLIC TOILETS THERE UNLESS EXPLICITLY 
SEEKING AN ENCOUNTER OF ANOTHER KIND. 
 
--------------------- 
IT'S NO JOKE, HOWEVER 
--------------------- 
 
13.  (U)  ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT IN THE OFFICIAL 
MEDIA, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS PREDICTED THAT THE NUMBER 
OF PEOPLE IN VIETNAM INFECTED WITH HIV/AIDS WILL REACH 
200,000 BY 2005.  ALREADY, ACCORDING TO THIS REPORT, 154,244 
PEOPLE ARE INFECTED, 23,605 CASES WITH FULL-BLOWN AIDS, AND 
20,089 ON THE VERGE OF DEATH.  THE NATIONAL AIDS STANDING 
BUREAU OFFICIALLY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED ONLY 56,495 HIV CARRIERS 
(13,000 OF WHOM WERE IDENTIFIED SO FAR IN 2002), AS WELL AS 
A TOTAL OF 4,649 DEATHS (1,096 IN 2002) AND 8,450 CURRENT 
AIDS PATIENTS, ACCORDING TO ANOTHER REPORT IN THE OFFICIAL 
MEDIA.  MOST GVN OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT THE 
LARGE MAJORITY OF INFECTIONS STEM FROM INTRAVENOUS DRUG USE, 
ALTHOUGH SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THIS TREND IS NOW 
SHIFTING IN FAVOR OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS.  GVN 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  02845  03 OF 03  261022Z 
OFFICIALS HAVE NOTED PRIVATELY THAT HIV/AIDS INFECTION BY A 
PRISON INMATE IS SOMETIMES A FACTOR IN WINNING AN AMNESTY. 
 
14.  (U)  AS NOTED IN REFTEL SUBMISSION TO THE ANNUAL ANTI- 
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT, TRAFFICKING IN VIETNAM 
REMAINS AN ISSUE OF CONCERN TO THE GVN AND OTHER OBSERVERS, 
INCLUDING THE USG.  HOWEVER, MOST TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN 
APPEARS TO BE AIMED AT FOREIGN AUDIENCES, ALTHOUGH SOME 
TRAFFICKING FROM RURAL TO URBAN AREAS FOR THE PURPOSES OF 
PROSTITUTION EXISTS.  ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ARE MORE LIKELY 
FACTORS TO INDUCE YOUNG WOMEN VOLUNTARILY INTO PROFESSIONAL 
OR SEMI-PROFESSIONAL PROSTITUTION DOMESTICALLY, HOWEVER. 
WITHIN HANOI, THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE THE CHILD SEX 
PROSTITUTION SO ABHORRENT IN OTHER NEAR-BY COUNTRIES. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
15.  (U)  NO RELIABLE ESTIMATES EXIST ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE 
ARE ENGAGED -- FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, FREE-LANCE, EMPLOYED -- 
IN PROSTITUTION IN HANOI THESE DAYS, BUT THE NUMBERS APPEAR 
TO BE GROWING.  HANOI STILL (AS FAR AS EMBASSY KNOWS) HAS 
NOTHING LIKE DE FACTO BROTHELS OR BANGKOK-STYLE "MASSAGE 
PARLORS," BUT THE RANGE OF OTHER OPTIONS HAS DEVELOPED 
MARKEDLY AND IS CLEARLY MEETING SOME MARKET DEMANDS.  THE 
RESPONSE OF POLICE AND SECURITY OFFICIALS TO ALL OF THESE 
TRENDS APPEARS WEAK, EVEN INDIFFERENT.  THE CLEAR 
IMPLICATION IS THAT, AS ELSEWHERE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, 
CORRUPTION IS EFFECTIVE IN KEEPING POLICE AWAY AND OFF OF 
THE BACKS OF THESE DEMIMONDE ENTREPRENEURS.  IT IS NO WONDER 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 04        HANOI  02845  03 OF 03  261022Z 
THAT THE GVN AND CPV FEEL COMPELLED TO ADMIT THE GROWING 
PREVALENCE OF SOCIAL EVILS.  WHAT THEY MAY NOT YET HAVE A 
GOOD GAUGE FOR IS WHETHER THE HANOI PUBLIC WOULD RATHER 
THESE SOCIAL EVILS CONTINUE TO PROLIFERATE, OR WHETHER THEY 
WOULD PREFER AUTHORITIES MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS.  IT MAY BE 
THIS INDECISION THAT PREVENTS A MORE VIGOROUS OFFICIAL 
RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM OF PROSTITUTION IN HANOI AND 
ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM.  THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT HANOI'S 
NIGHTLIFE AND SOCIETY INCREASINGLY RESEMBLE THOSE OF OTHER 
SOUTHEAST ASIAN CITIES -- ESPECIALLY HO CHI MINH CITY. 
BURGHARDT 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED