Vietnamese Bride Shocked in China! Finds China Poorer Than Vietnam, Many Fleeing

Summary

The video script delves into the complexities of Vietnamese women marrying into China, often driven by economic disparity and gender imbalance. It highlights the stark contrast between expectations and reality, with language barriers, cultural differences, and challenging living conditions leading to many women choosing to leave. The script also touches on the darker side of human trafficking and marriage scams, where some women are coerced into marriages or flee after defrauding their husbands. The gender imbalance in China, a consequence of the one-child policy, exacerbates the issue, creating a demand for brides and a market for illegal matchmaking services.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Vietnamese women often marry into China with dreams of a better life, but many face harsh realities that lead to their departure.
• 📚 Language barriers, particularly the difficulty of learning Mandarin and dealing with local dialects, are significant challenges for Vietnamese brides in China.
• 🏞 Many Vietnamese women find themselves living in remote areas of China, which are less comfortable than their hometowns, contributing to their decision to leave.
• 🍽 Cultural differences, including eating habits, can be a source of discomfort for Vietnamese brides adjusting to life in China.
• 💔 The gap between the online portrayal of China and the real-life experiences of Vietnamese brides often results in disappointment and a desire to return home.
• 🚸 Some Vietnamese women are trafficked or scammed into marriages in China, which can be a traumatic experience leading to their eventual escape.
• 💰 Economic pressures, including the high costs associated with marrying a foreign bride, can lead to financial strain and contribute to the decision to leave.
• 🏡 The living conditions in rural China can be a shock for Vietnamese brides who expected a more urban and prosperous lifestyle.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Some Vietnamese brides choose to leave even after having children, indicating the severity of the challenges they face in their new environment.
• 📉 The gender imbalance in China, a result of the one-child policy, has created a demand for foreign brides, including Vietnamese women, to marry Chinese men.

Q & A

What are some of the challenges Vietnamese women face after marrying into China?

Vietnamese women often face challenges such as significant cultural and lifestyle differences, language barriers including learning Mandarin and dealing with local dialects, and living in remote areas with harsh living conditions.

Why do some Vietnamese women choose to leave China after marriage?

Some Vietnamese women leave due to the stark contrast between their expectations and the reality of life in China, including economic pressures, living conditions, and the absence of the better life they had hoped for.

How does the language barrier impact Vietnamese women in China?

The language barrier makes it difficult for Vietnamese women to communicate and build relationships, as Mandarin is a challenging language to learn and there are various local dialects to contend with.

What role does the economic disparity between China and Vietnam play in the decision of Vietnamese women to marry Chinese men?

The perception of China's more developed economy compared to Vietnam's leads some Vietnamese women to see marrying into China as an opportunity for a better life and more opportunities.

How do cultural differences in eating habits affect Vietnamese women in China?

Vietnamese women often find Chinese food, which uses many seasonings, to be quite different from their own lighter cuisine that focuses on natural flavors, leading to discomfort and a sense of homesickness.

What are some of the illegal activities that some Vietnamese women fall victim to in China?

Some Vietnamese women are trafficked into China against their will or become involved in marriage scams, where they marry and then flee with the family's money, causing emotional and financial distress to their husbands and families.

What is the impact of China's one-child policy on the gender imbalance and the demand for Vietnamese brides?

China's one-child policy has led to a gender imbalance with more men than women, creating a demand for Vietnamese brides among older Chinese men who struggle to find wives.

How does the high cost of marrying a local bride in China affect the decision to marry Vietnamese women?

The high cost of marrying a local bride, which can include expenses for housing and a car, leads some Chinese men from poorer backgrounds to seek Vietnamese brides as an alternative.

What are the social implications of the gender imbalance in China?

The gender imbalance in China has led to a marriage squeeze, where a significant number of men, particularly in rural areas, struggle to find wives, leading to social issues such as fewer marriages and higher divorce rates.

How does the Chinese government's approach to social control relate to the ongoing issue of human trafficking and bride selling?

Despite China's extensive social control measures, human trafficking and bride selling persist due to a focus on suppressing certain groups and corruption within law enforcement, which often turns a blind eye to these crimes.

What measures are being taken to address the issue of Vietnamese women leaving after marrying into China?

While specific measures are not detailed in the script, the broader issue of gender imbalance and the social implications are recognized as urgent, suggesting a need for policy changes and social interventions.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Cultural and Linguistic Challenges for Vietnamese Brides in China

The paragraph discusses the difficulties Vietnamese women face after marrying into Chinese families. These women often dream of a better life in China, but reality differs significantly from their expectations. Language barriers, particularly the challenge of learning Mandarin and various local dialects, make communication and relationship-building difficult. Additionally, many find themselves living in remote areas with harsh living conditions, which contrasts with their hometowns' comfort. The disparity between online portrayals of China and real-life experiences leads to disappointment, prompting many to leave. Economic pressures and the desire for better opportunities are reasons for marrying Chinese men, but cultural differences, language barriers, and unfamiliar living environments create significant challenges.

05:01

😔 Exploitation and the Plight of Trafficked Vietnamese Brides

This section delves into the tragic stories of Vietnamese women who are trafficked into China and forced into marriages. They are often lured with false job offers and then married off to older, poorer men, sometimes with disabilities. These women experience immense suffering and feel trapped in a living hell. When given the chance, many choose to escape this life. The paragraph also highlights cases of marriage fraud where women collude with intermediaries to target desperate families, marry them, and then flee with their money. This leaves the families not only financially devastated but also emotionally scarred. The narrative includes a personal account of women who married into rural China for a better life, only to find conditions harsher than expected, leading to their decision to leave.

10:03

📉 The Gender Imbalance and Its Social Impact in China

The paragraph explores the consequences of China's one-child policy, which led to a significant gender imbalance with more men than women. This has created a demand for Vietnamese brides among Chinese men, especially in rural areas. The policy's long-term effects have resulted in a 'marriage squeeze,' where many men are unable to find wives. The situation is exacerbated by high bride prices and the preference for male children in some regions. The government's focus on social control and suppression of certain groups has led to lax enforcement against human trafficking, allowing this illegal market to thrive. The paragraph also discusses the economic and social development leading to fewer marriages and higher divorce rates, with a particular focus on the difficulties faced by older rural men in finding spouses.

15:05

💼 Economic Hardships and Marriage Challenges in Rural China

This final paragraph addresses the economic challenges faced by rural residents in China, particularly the high costs associated with marriage. The national average disposable income for rural residents is significantly lower than the bride price and the costs of housing and other marriage-related expenses. Many young men are unable to afford these costs, leading to a large number of unmarried men in rural areas. The paragraph emphasizes the economic factors contributing to the marriage crisis and the social implications of this trend.

Keywords

💡Cultural Differences

Cultural differences refer to the variations in customs, traditions, and social behaviors between different societies. In the video, this concept is central as it discusses how Vietnamese women who marry into China often face significant challenges due to the stark contrast between Vietnamese and Chinese cultures. The video mentions that these differences can lead to difficulties in communication and building relationships, which can contribute to the women's decision to leave their marriages.

💡Language Barrier

A language barrier is an obstacle that arises when people do not share a common language, making communication difficult. The script highlights Mandarin as one of the hardest languages to learn, and for Vietnamese women in China, learning Mandarin and understanding local dialects is a significant challenge. This barrier can impede their ability to integrate into their new communities, leading to feelings of isolation and contributing to their decision to return to Vietnam.

💡Economic Pressure

Economic pressure refers to the financial strain or stress that individuals or families experience. In the context of the video, it is mentioned that the economic conditions in some parts of China, particularly remote rural areas, do not match the expectations of Vietnamese women who had hoped for a better life. This economic pressure, combined with other factors, can lead to disappointment and a desire to leave the marriage.

💡Human Trafficking

Human trafficking involves the illegal trade of people, often for forced labor or sexual exploitation. The video script touches on this issue, noting that some Vietnamese women are trafficked into China against their will and sold into marriages. This is a grave violation of human rights and a significant social problem that contributes to the complex dynamics of cross-border marriages.

💡Gender Imbalance

Gender imbalance refers to a disparity in the number of males and females within a population. The video discusses how China's one-child policy and cultural preference for male children led to a gender imbalance, with more men than women. This has created a demand for brides from other countries, including Vietnam, and has contributed to the phenomenon of Vietnamese women marrying Chinese men.

💡Marriage Scams

Marriage scams involve fraudulent marriages, often for financial gain. The script describes cases where Vietnamese women, in collaboration with intermediaries, marry Chinese men, take their money, and then disappear. This type of scam not only causes financial loss but also emotional distress to the men and their families.

💡Remote Rural Areas

Remote rural areas are regions that are far from urban centers and typically have less developed infrastructure and fewer opportunities. The video mentions that many Vietnamese women end up living in such areas in China, which can be less comfortable than their hometowns in Vietnam. The isolation and lack of amenities in these areas can exacerbate the challenges faced by these women, influencing their decision to leave.

💡Bride Price

A bride price is a payment made by the groom or his family to the bride's family as part of the marriage agreement. In the video, it is noted that some Chinese men, particularly those from poorer backgrounds, struggle to afford the bride price for local women, leading them to seek brides from Vietnam. However, this can also lead to exploitation and trafficking.

💡Social Control

Social control refers to the mechanisms by which society influences and regulates the behavior of individuals. The script discusses China's extensive surveillance system and the government's focus on controlling certain groups, which may divert attention from issues like human trafficking. This suggests that the government's priorities and enforcement efforts may not be effectively addressing the problem of trafficking and bride selling.

💡Corruption

Corruption is the abuse of power for personal gain, often involving bribery or embezzlement. In the context of the video, corruption is mentioned as a factor that enables the human trafficking and bride selling networks to thrive. The involvement of corrupt officials and police officers in these illegal activities can hinder efforts to combat trafficking and protect the rights of vulnerable individuals.

💡Psychological Distress

Psychological distress refers to emotional or mental suffering, often resulting from stressful life events or circumstances. The video describes how the significant gap between the expectations and reality of life in China for Vietnamese brides can lead to substantial psychological distress. This distress, along with other challenges, can be a key factor in their decision to leave their marriages and return to Vietnam.

Highlights

Vietnamese girls often marry into China with high expectations but face significant challenges.

Language barriers, particularly learning Mandarin and local dialects, are a major hurdle for Vietnamese women in China.

Cultural differences in lifestyle and communication contribute to the difficulties faced by Vietnamese women in China.

Economic pressures and harsh living conditions in remote areas of China lead to disappointment for Vietnamese brides.

The stark contrast between online portrayals of China and the real-life experiences of Vietnamese brides causes disillusionment.

The trend of Vietnamese women marrying Chinese men has been a response to gender imbalances in both countries.

Some Vietnamese women are trafficked into China against their will, leading to forced marriages and potential escape attempts.

Marriage scams involving Vietnamese brides and intermediaries target desperate families, causing financial and emotional harm.

Cultural differences in food habits, with Vietnamese food being lighter compared to the seasoning-heavy Chinese cuisine, can be a point of contention.

The gender imbalance in China, exacerbated by the one-child policy, has led to a demand for foreign brides.

The high cost of marrying a local bride in China pushes some men to seek cheaper options, such as Vietnamese brides.

The phenomenon of Vietnamese brides leaving China has been linked to psychological distress caused by unmet expectations.

Instances of mistreatment and poor treatment by Chinese husbands contribute to the decision of Vietnamese brides to leave.

Human trafficking and bride selling form a lucrative illegal market, involving corrupt officials and organized crime.

The Chinese government's focus on social control and suppression of certain groups has led to a lack of enforcement against human trafficking.

The gender imbalance has resulted in over 30 million Chinese men unable to find wives, leading to a 'marriage squeeze'.

The high bride price and economic requirements for marriage in China make it difficult for rural men to afford local brides.

The issue of marriage difficulties for older rural men in China is becoming more severe, with significant percentages reporting challenges in finding spouses.

Transcripts

why do Vietnamese girls leave after

marrying into China well you see

Vietnamese girls dream of marrying into

China but once they get here they find

that things often don't go as planned

the difference in lifestyle are just too

big Chinese is recognized as one of the

hardest languages in the world to Lear

and for these Vietnamese women learning

Mandarin and Chinese characters is their

biggest challenge on top of that dealing

with the various local dialects making

things even

harder it's top them to communicate and

build relationships also many Vietnamese

girls end up living in remote mous areas

of China like yanel or Chan they find

these places to be even less comfortable

than their hometowns this reality is a

harsh blow to them whether it's the

economic pressure or the living

conditions the difference between what

they saw about China online and what

they experienced in real life is massive

this becomes the main reason they choose

to

leave since the 1980s there have been

many Vietnamese women who have chosen to

marry Chinese men this trend has helped

ease the problem of Chinese men

struggling to find wives there are a few

reasons behind this China has more men

than women while Vietnam has more women

than men also China's economy is more

developed compared to Vietnam's some

Vietnamese women see marrying into China

as a chance for a better life and more

opportunities however things don't

always turn out as they hope some

Vietnamese women return to their home

country just months or years after

moving to China cultural differences

language barriers and different living

environments are big challenges for them

these along with economic pressure often

lead to disappointment and pain

prompting many to leave the women in the

video also mentioned differences in

eating habits their tastes are quite

different from those in China while

Chinese food uses many seasoning

Vietnamese food is lighter and focuses

on natural flavor many Vietnamese women

believe that marrying to foreign family

would mean better living conditions but

after arriving in China realized the

reality was not what they had imagined

this is another reason why some choose

to leave another issue is that some

Vietnamese Brides were trafficked into

China against their will others are

involved in marriage scams they partner

with intermediaries to Target families

desperate for marriage after agreeing on

a price they quickly marry into the

family then they find ways to take the

family's money once they've nearly

drained their finances they flee into

the dead of night sometimes they even

leave their children behind then they

target another family this is

heartbreaking especially for families

that are already struggling they hope to

avoid High Bride prices and housing

costs but end up losing both money and

family a woman shared her experience

from around 2010 or 2011 many Vietnamese

women married into remote rural areas in

China hoping for a better life but they

found that life didn't improve much in

some cases it was even harder many

Vietnamese Brides choose to leave after

having children while some left before

giving birth she mentioned that in her

hometown at least 200 Vietnamese women

were married into the area now only a

few remain in one Village there were

about 20 Vietnamese Brides but now only

two or three are left transportation in

these areas is poor the Vietnamese women

saved up for plane ticket and left in

these places men spent their life

savings around 50,000 to 60,000 yen to

bring a bride home these men are often

older and not wealthy the language

barrier adds to the problem leading many

Vietnamese Brides to leave this is a

complex social issue she recalled a

particularly sad story two Chinese men

spent hundreds of thousands of yen to

marry two Vietnamese Brides after losing

200 yen for travel expenses they had to

walk home it took 3 to 4 hours to cover

the 15 kilm she watched as the two

Vietnamese Brides cried it was truly

heartbreaking there are several reasons

why these Vietnamese Brides choose to

leave number one the huge gap between

reality and expectation has caused them

significant psychological distress some

Vietnamese women who married into China

had never been there before they didn't

know what life in China was actually

like they had heard that China was

wealthier than Vietnam and thought

marrying a Chinese man would bring them

a better life but in reality it was

different many were sent to remote rural

areas in China the living conditions

were nothing like the bustling cities

they had imagined there women hoped for

a better life but found that things

weren't much different from the poverty

they had left behind this led to a huge

psychological gap for them they felt it

was better to return to their home

country than to continue living this way

number two some Vietnamese women find

that their husbands do not treat them

well after marrying into China leading

to an unhappy life some Vietnamese women

willingly married into China hoping for

happiness love and a stable life but

they often face coldness and

mistreatment from their husband and

in-laws living in a foreign Place made

them feel lonely and helpless this made

their lives unhappy and reduced their

sense of well-being in the end many

choose to leave China and go back to

their Homeland number three they were

trafficked and sold into China some

Vietnamese women were not willing Brides

They were forced into these marriages

they came from poor remote villages in

Vietnam and fell into traps by

fraudsters these criminals lured them

into China's remote areas with false job

offers

once there they are married off to older

poor and sometimes physically disabled

or mentally challenged rural men for

these women married to China felt like

falling into a living hell their lives

were full of suffering when they had the

chance they often choose to escape to

free themselves from this hopeless life

Chinese media reported on a man from Dau

County in Hub province in early April

2023 he paid around 77,000 Yen which is

around $10,600

through an arranged introduction to

marry a Vietnamese woman his family was

hopeful that this marriage would finally

bring stability and happiness however

just 7 days after the wedding the bride

suddenly left without a word dalwood

county is a mous region in northeastern

H it has seen many cases of marriage

fraud involving Vietnamese bries in

recent years on February 16 2016 several

villages in Mayan Township and jingal

town fujan Province saw a mass

disappearance of Vietnam bries more than

a dozen Brides went missing most of them

do speak Mandarin some had been married

for about 6 months while others for less

than a month they disappeared using

excuses like going out to buy clothes

groceries or use a restroom their phones

went unanswered husband found out they

had all vanished around the same time

some of these Vietnamese Brides were

even pregnant many villagers said that

they were introduced to their Vietnamese

Brides By An intermediary from Tongan

Shaman this intermediary had also come

from Vietnam and had lived in toan for

more than 10 years after the Vietnamese

Brides disappeared the intermediary's

phone was also unreachable in jingal

town Central's Village a 29-year-old man

named Fang sha Jun was one of the

husbands of a missing Vietnamese bride

he said he married a woman named Nan

till Yen from Vietnam he paid a bride

price of 50,000 yen he brought her home

without a wedding ceremony or marriage

certificate he said my my wife couldn't

speak the hwen dialect but could speak

Mandarin I saw her ID card but it was in

Vietnamese so I couldn't understand it I

only know she was born in 1990 I don't

know exactly where in Vietnam she was

from she was diligent at home and there

were no signs she planned to leave

Reports say that most of these husbands

came from poor families they couldn't

afford that 100,000 Yen needed to marry

a local bride so they choose to marry

Vietnamese women in recent years cases

of Vietnamese Brides running away have

become frequent

this is especially true in cases

involving black market marriage agencies

these pose a significant risk often

leaving families with both financial and

emotional losses the fantasy of

Vietnamese Brides as gentle hardworking

and not requiring a bride price has made

marrying Vietnamese women a popular

Trend in 2011 the Gangi public Security

Department released data showing that

over 40,000 undocumented Vietnamese

Brides were found in GUI alone in other

provinces the number of Vietnamese

Brides were estimated to be over 65,000

this means that at that time there were

more than 100,000 Vietnamese bride in

China in broader areas like GUI

advertisements are even posted on

utility polls they say things like get

married in 3 months guaranteed or only

200,000 Yen if you don't trust these

Street ads there are professional

matchmaking websites like Vietnam Cupid

that offers similar Services the staff

at these websites often use words like

obedient and well behaved to describe

these Brides They sure clients

confidently saying saying we charge

3,000 yen to arrange a meeting in hoim

Min City if the couple decides to get

married we charge an extra 36,000 yen to

organize a wedding including wedding

photos the bride files for divorce or

runs away within 2 months we will help

you find another partner meanwhile

remote villages in Vietnam are facing a

crisis many young girls are disappearing

according to a BBC report a 56-year-old

woman named doe lives in a small

Vietnamese village with only 50 people

she has a terminal illness her daughter

me went missing two years ago me was

helping out at a market store when she

was followed by two men and then

vanished locals believe me was taken to

China and sold as a wife Do's only wish

now is to see her daughter before she

dies since me's disappearance her

sister-in-law has been living in fear

she forbids the women in her family from

leaving the village alone she herself

only goes to the market with her husband

every day she worries that human

trafficking will one day affect her own

daughter commentator Tang Jing Yen says

that there are deeper reasons behind the

trafficking of Vietnamese women he

believes that China's long-standing one

child policy forced many women to

undergo abortions in rural areas where

strong male labor is preferred this led

to a gender imbalance now there are more

men than women which has created demand

for Vietnamese brants among older

Chinese men tting also points out that

China has an unprecedented level of

social control with surveillance cameras

everywhere yet large scale crimes like

human trafficking continues with little

enforcement he argues that the real

reason is the government's priorities

China's control system focused mainly on

suppressing religious groups human

rights activists and descendants

spending vast resources on this when it

comes to issues that affect people's

daily lives the police often turn a

Blind Eye in many places the line

between the police and criminal gains is

blurred corruption is widespread the

lucrative business of human trafficking

and brid selling has attracted many

corrupt police officers organizing crime

groups and other criminals many

government officials are involved

forming a massive Network that keeps

this illegal Market thriving the problem

of Chinese men struggling to find wives

is widespread vice president Yen Shing

of the China population Association says

China's 40 ayear long gender imbalance

at Birth has led to many young men being

forced into singlehood over 30 million

Chinese men cannot find a wife Yen notes

that the lack of marriageable women for

millions of Chinese men is a reality the

high male to female birth ratio has

caused a mismatch in the population of

marriageable age men and women this has

led to social issues including a

marriage squeeze fewer marriages the

higher divorce rates he stresses that

addressing the gender imbalance in

society is urgent in normal

circumstances for every 100 girls born

there are 103 to 107 boys this is the

normal racial worldwide since the 1980s

China's one child policy has led to a

steady increase in the number of boys

being born compared to girls in China's

thirdd Nation senses in 1982 the ratio

reached 108.5 above the normal upper

limit of 107 since then the ratio has

continued to rise peaking at

121.2 in 2004 the 2010 census showed a

ratio of 118 far beyond the normal range

of 103 to 107 a preference of boys is

deeply ingrained in some parts of

China's Society under these conditions a

negative impact of the one child policy

has led to a gender imbalance in the

population in a 2011 report by the into

times the number of newborn boys in

China exceeded the number of girls by

20% the 2010 senses show that China's

male population exceeded the female

population by 34 million this is roughly

equal to the entire male population of

France yening points out that the high

male to female birth ratio over the past

40 years has led to 34 to 35 million

more males than females this imbalance

has left many men forced into singlehood

Chinese State media have reported that

in some rural areas the cost of marrying

a bride can reach 1 million yen worse

still even if a family spends that much

they may still struggle to find a bride

a man from chy said that among his

relatives there are seven or eight

marriageable men who cannot find a wife

the oldest is 37 or 38 years old some

cannot find wives because their families

do not own property in the country other

are seen as unpeeling because they have

not received much education a man from

northern JSU also said that finding a

wife in rural areas is very difficult if

the parents are not business people or

government employees and if the family

is not well off the young man face an

uphill battle matchmakers do not even

bother with families that have two sons

Vice director Wang pan of China's

national Health and Family Planning

Commission has warned that the gender

imbalance is a serious hidden threat to

China's population and social stability

he explained that the long-term High

maleo female birth ratio has led to a

lot of social problems which are now

becoming more visible the most direct

impact is the marriageable squeeze in

simple terms this means that a segment

of the population finds it hard to get

married or remains single in March this

year the China rural Research Institute

at Central China Normal University

released a report on the marriage

difficulties faced by older rural men

the report showed that this problem has

become more severe in recent years in a

survey of 119 sample Villages 51

Villages or 43% reported significant

difficulties for older men in finding a

spouse the problem was most severe in

the central region with 50% followed by

the West at 40% and the east at 39%

associate professor ding changfa of

Economics at shman University told

Phenix TV that China's seventh census

shows 35 million unmarried men in rural

areas the difficulty in finding a spouse

for older rural men is due to economic

and social development many young men

and women from rural areas move to big

cities for work women often stay in

cities after marriage leaving fewer

women in rural areas not only that in

some rural areas a bride price can can

be extremely high this includes cost for

a house and a car adding up to 500,000

to 600,000 Yen or even more last year

the national average disposable income

for Rural residents was just over 20,000

yen many young men cannot afford to buy

because they lack the funds

[Music]