The Documentary Podcast The Fifth Floor: Vietnam's matchmakers
Aug 10, 2024
Thoung Lee, an investigative reporter from BBC Vietnamese, sheds light on the controversial matchmaking agencies in Vietnam. She discusses the staggering trend of Vietnamese women marrying foreigners, exploring the cultural and economic motivations behind these unions. The conversation dives into the vulnerabilities faced by women during this process and the challenges within cross-cultural marriages. Lee shares gripping stories of both success and adversity, offering a nuanced perspective on love in a profit-driven matchmaking industry.
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Scale And Moral Tension
- From 2008–2018 over 18,000 Vietnamese citizens a year married foreigners, mostly women who met partners via matchmaking agencies.
- Those agencies operate as a profitable industry despite ethical concerns about exploitation and power imbalances.
Friend's Search Sparked Investigation
- Tuong Le's friend from Singapore searched repeatedly for a Vietnamese wife and found it easier than dating locally.
- A controversial agency Facebook post about a 17-year-old sparked Tuong Le's investigation and trip to Singapore.
Poverty Drives Cross-Border Marriages
- The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security reports 78% of women marrying foreigners face economic hardship and low education.
- Poverty and unemployment are major drivers pushing women toward transnational marriage as an opportunity.