Footloose in Vietnam?

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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!
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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
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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
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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!
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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

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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
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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