VZCZCXRO7877
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHHI #0388/01 1140546
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240546Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9566
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 5804
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000388 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KTIP KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD ASEC PREF ELAB VM
 
SUBJECT: Footloose in Vietnam? 
 
HANOI 00000388  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: In its latest attempt to clamp down on illegal 
behavior at karaoke bars, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and 
Tourism (MOCST) has drafted a decree that would ban dancing at the 
popular singing clubs.  The proposed regulations were posted on 
MOCST's website, which says it is trying to discourage the use of 
the designer drug ecstasy and to prevent prostitution.  It is not 
immediately clear, however, how a prohibition against dancing would 
contribute to either goal, and the proposed decree has been derided 
on Vietnam's on-line blogs.  The decree is available for comment 
until April 30, 2009 and is on track to go into effect in September 
¶2009.  End summary. 
 
Calling Kevin Bacon - Vietnam Needs You! 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) posted 
the proposed ban on its website and invited public comment on the 
move. According to Mr. Le Anh Tuyen, Director of the Ministry's 
Legal Department, karaoke is a cultural activity closely connected 
with "social evils," particularly drug use and prostitution.  In an 
interview posted on MOCST's website, Tuyen cited (unspecified) 
"statistics" showing that besides singing into a microphone, a large 
number of people actually rent karaoke rooms to use ecstasy, drink 
alcohol, and ... dance.  "In our country, karaoke often goes with 
ecstasy and prostitution," he explained, adding (somewhat 
incongruously), "The function of karaoke bars is for singing, not 
for dancing.  The ban for dancing in karaoke bar is to limit the use 
of ecstasy pills."  Tuyen said that any dance in a karaoke bar would 
violate the proposed ban but "behavior with less danger to society" 
-- such as simply moving to the beat of a song, presumably without 
using ecstasy -- would not be considered a violation.  Violators 
found to be actually dancing would face fines, although the amount 
has not been specified. 
 
¶3.  (U) Mr. Tuyen acknowledged that dancing is a broad term.  The 
draft decree does not, for example, specify where rhythmic swaying 
stops and dancing begins and is silent on whether one can dance 
while seated.  Tuyen emphasized that inspectors would have 
discretion to decide whether a patron's movement constitutes dancing 
and, if so, the severity of the violation. "If people dance but do 
not play music too loud, do not drink alcohol, and do not shout, 
inspectors may reduce their level of violation." 
 
Jump Back 
--------- 
 
¶4.  (U) In May 2005, the Vietnamese government temporary halted the 
licensing of new discotheques, bars and karaoke lounges, and called 
on relevant ministries to take measures to deal with "social evils" 
such as prostitution and heroin usage taking place in these types of 
recreational establishments.  The order was rapidly rescinded, 
however, following a groundswell of public opinion, in particular 
from young people.  In 2006, the government banned alcohol in 
karaoke bars, but in practice, drinking alcoholic beverages 
continues.  In a February 19 press conference, a spokesman from the 
Department of Social Evils Prevention, under the Ministry of Labor, 
War Invalids and Social Affairs, warned that drug use and 
prostitution in bars, karaoke lounges, and discos were both forecast 
to rise in 2009, primarily due to the economic downturn.  Vietnam 
currently houses 5,000 licensed karaoke lounges and 100 
discotheques, according to statistics from the Ministry of Culture 
and Information. 
 
Dancing in the Sheets 
--------------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Tuyen emphasized that an earlier draft called for all 
karaoke clubs to be shut down, stating that many serve as brothels. 
And, in fact, while karaoke is a widely popular form of recreation, 
certain karaoke bars are frequented by female sex workers, many of 
whom dance with prospective clients before departing the karaoke 
establishment to complete the transaction elsewhere.  Some karaoke 
bars also offer illegal dance performances, acting as fronts for 
prostitution.  While specific data are hard to come by, NGO contacts 
put the number of prostitutes in Vietnam at approximately 300,000. 
 
Let's Dance! 
------------ 
 
¶6.  (U) Somewhat strangely, while the draft decree bans dancing in 
karaoke bars, it allows karaoke bars and discos at luxury hotels in 
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to stay open two hours later, moving the 
closing time from 12 midnight to 2 am.  With visitor arrivals in 
Vietnam dropping during the global economic crisis, the move is 
designed to attract more tourists, Tuyen said, adding that a large 
percentage of tourists wish to go to karaoke bars late at night. 
Vietnamese citizens can also go to late night karaoke bars; however, 
Tuyen stated that as "Vietnamese generally have to rest for work the 
 
HANOI 00000388  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
next day, we consider 12 am suitable for regular karaoke 
establishments."  "It doesn't mean there is no possibility of social 
evils in luxury hotels, but we are trying to meet tourist demand," 
Tuyen said, perhaps more forthrightly than he intended.  It is not 
clear if the ban on dancing would also apply to karaoke bars in 
luxury hotels. 
 
Kick Off Your Sunday Shoes 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Regardless of the intended target, the draft decree was 
met with skepticism, at least on-line.  Those quoted by the Vietnam 
Express news website, for example, derided the proposal.  "Who can 
monitor, and who can define what is called dancing," asked one 
resident.  Another praised visiting karaoke bars as a way to release 
stress and lamented that "It will be boring if you enter a karaoke 
bar, sitting in one place to sing songs."  Pointing out the irony of 
banning dancing at karaoke bars to prevent drug use and prostitution 
while allowing extended hours at similar establishments in luxury 
hotels, one blogger bluntly surmised that "maybe the government is 
hoping to encourage foreign tourists to support the local economy by 
spending money on drugs and prostitutes."  Another blogger helpfully 
suggested two additional steps:  A) Authorities should focus on 
"shaking" (slang similar to "the shakes," that refers to dancing 
while on drugs), by paying attention to head nodding or swinging, 
but permitting the cha cha, rumba, or tango, as appropriate to the 
music.  B) To prevent prostitution, all women entering a karaoke bar 
must be accompanied by boyfriend or husband; an official inspector 
will check her certificate of marriage or certificate proving 
girlfriend or boyfriend-ship. 
 
¶8.  (U) The most trenchant comment was also the most direct: "I 
notice that if the authorities cannot control or manage something, 
they ban it," one blogger noted, "Why don't they enforce the ban on 
selling, transporting, and using drugs, but allow dancing in karaoke 
bars?" 
 
¶9.  (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen Ho Chi Minh City. 
 
MICHALAK