Prostitution Prostitution laws in VietnamViệt Nam
Vietnam prohibits both buying and selling sex but treats both as administrative violations rather than crimes. The Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention (No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11) bans buying, selling, harbouring, organising, brokering and protecting prostitution. Fines are set by Government decree: Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, in force since 15 December 2025 and replacing Decree 144/2021/ND-CP, fines buyers VND 1–2 million and people who sell sex a warning or VND 300,000–500,000, more where several people are involved. Harbouring ("chứa mại dâm") and brokering ("môi giới mại dâm") are criminal offences under Articles 327 and 328 of the Penal Code 2015. Buying sex from a person under 18 is a crime.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
The Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention 2003 prohibits both buying and selling sex (Article 4). Both are administrative violations punished with warnings or fines, since 15 December 2025 under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP. Harbouring, brokering and organising prostitution are crimes under the Penal Code.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Selling sex is prohibited. It is punished with a warning or a fine of VND 300,000–500,000, or VND 1–2 million for selling sex to two or more people at the same time; foreign nationals may be expelled and illicit profits must be surrendered.[1][2][3][4] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | Buying sex is prohibited and fined VND 1–2 million, or VND 2–5 million for buying sex from two or more people at the same time. Buying sex from a person under 18 is a criminal offence.[1][2][3] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Harbouring prostitution, defined as using, renting or lending premises or vehicles for buying and selling sex, is a criminal offence under Article 327 of the Penal Code. Service businesses used for prostitution are fined and can lose their licences.[1][5] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Brokering, organising and forcing prostitution must be prosecuted as crimes (Ordinance Article 24(2); Penal Code Articles 327–328). Where brokering is not serious enough for prosecution, Decree 282/2025 fines it VND 30–50 million; protecting prostitution is fined VND 5–10 million, or VND 50–75 million when done by abusing an official position.[1][2][5] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Administrative offence | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Offering one's own services is part of the prohibited act of selling sex, and advertising on behalf of others would fall under brokering, which is fined or prosecuted.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is prohibited. It is punished with a warning or a fine of VND 300,000–500,000, or VND 1–2 million for selling sex to two or more people at the same time; foreign nationals may be expelled and illicit profits must be surrendered.[1][2][3][4]
The Ordinance defines selling sex ("bán dâm") as sexual intercourse with another person in return for money or other material benefit (Article 3(1)) and lists it among prohibited acts (Article 4(2)). Article 23 provides for administrative sanctions and, in its 2003 text, for education measures in the commune or placement in a treatment establishment. A 2018 legal review by Asia Catalyst and the Vance Center reports that compulsory detention of sex workers ended in 2012 and that they are now fined instead. Knowingly transmitting HIV remains a criminal matter (Article 23(2)).
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Buying sex is prohibited and fined VND 1–2 million, or VND 2–5 million for buying sex from two or more people at the same time. Buying sex from a person under 18 is a criminal offence.[1][2][3]
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Harbouring prostitution, defined as using, renting or lending premises or vehicles for buying and selling sex, is a criminal offence under Article 327 of the Penal Code. Service businesses used for prostitution are fined and can lose their licences.[1][5]
Article 3(4) of the Ordinance defines "chứa mại dâm" and Article 24(2) requires criminal prosecution for it. Article 25 provides fines, confiscation and withdrawal of licences for service businesses used for prostitution, and administrative or criminal liability for managers who negligently allow it.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Brokering, organising and forcing prostitution must be prosecuted as crimes (Ordinance Article 24(2); Penal Code Articles 327–328). Where brokering is not serious enough for prosecution, Decree 282/2025 fines it VND 30–50 million; protecting prostitution is fined VND 5–10 million, or VND 50–75 million when done by abusing an official position.[1][2][5]
The Ordinance defines brokering ("môi giới mại dâm") as enticing or leading people, as an intermediary, so that buying and selling sex take place (Article 3(7)). Article 34 of Decree 282/2025 also fines assisting, enticing or coercing others into prostitution (VND 10–20 million) and contributing money or property to it (VND 30–50 million).
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Offering one's own services is part of the prohibited act of selling sex, and advertising on behalf of others would fall under brokering, which is fined or prosecuted.[1][2]
Confidence: low. Inference from the general prohibitions. The official Decree 282/2025 PDF is a scanned image and was read through an unofficial English translation; laws on cybersecurity, advertising and online content were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Pháp lệnh số 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 ngày 17 tháng 3 năm 2003 phòng, chống mại dâm Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention (No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11) Điều 3 · Điều 4 · Điều 22–25 | Prohibits buying, selling, harbouring, organising, brokering and protecting prostitution and sets out how each is sanctioned.[1] | 1 July 2003 |
| Nghị định số 282/2025/NĐ-CP quy định xử phạt vi phạm hành chính trong lĩnh vực an ninh, trật tự, an toàn xã hội; phòng, chống tệ nạn xã hội; phòng, chống bạo lực gia đình Decree 282/2025/ND-CP on administrative sanctions for security, public order and social safety, social evils and domestic violence Điều 32 · Điều 33 · Điều 34 | Sets the fines for buying sex, selling sex and related acts; replaced Decree 144/2021/ND-CP.[6] | 15 December 2025 |
Timeline
- 17 March 2003The National Assembly Standing Committee adopts the Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention; it takes effect on 1 July 2003.[1]
- 30 October 2025The Government issues Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, raising the fines for buying and selling sex.[2][6]
- 15 December 2025Decree 282/2025/ND-CP enters into force, replacing Decree 144/2021/ND-CP.[3]
Sources
- Pháp lệnh số 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 ngày 17 tháng 3 năm 2003 phòng, chống mại dâm (Ordinance No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11 of 17 March 2003 on prostitution prevention). Cổng Thông tin điện tử Chính phủ (Government of Viet Nam), 17 March 2003. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP dated October 30, 2025 of the Government prescribing sanctions for administrative violations of regulations on security, public order and social safety. LuatVietnam (unofficial English translation), 30 October 2025. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Từ ngày 15/12/2025 tăng cường xử lý tệ nạn mại dâm theo nghị định mới (From 15 December 2025, prostitution is dealt with more strictly under the new decree). Công an tỉnh Lai Châu (Lai Chau Provincial Police), 16 December 2025. government · accessed 30 October 2026
- A Legal Review of Detention Centers for Sex Workers in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Asia Catalyst and Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, June 2018. ngo · accessed 30 October 2026
- Bàn về việc xác định tội danh trong trường hợp người phạm tội vừa có hành vi “chứa mại dâm”, vừa có hành vi “môi giới mại dâm” (On classifying the offence where the offender both harbours and brokers prostitution). Viện kiểm sát nhân dân thành phố Hà Nội (Hanoi People's Procuracy), 2026. government · accessed 30 October 2026
- Nghị định số 282/2025/NĐ-CP quy định xử phạt vi phạm hành chính trong lĩnh vực an ninh, trật tự, an toàn xã hội; phòng, chống tệ nạn xã hội; phòng, chống bạo lực gia đình (Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP on administrative sanctions for security, public order and social safety, prevention of social evils and domestic violence (signed PDF)). Chính phủ (Government of Viet Nam), 30 October 2025. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026