Some of you stoles our lives

In January 2021, H’mong parents Dà and Mị allowed their daughter, Dính, 16, to go to China to find a job in a doll factory with an uncle and their niece, Kha. On their move, the three got into an altercation with strangers; the uncle hit them, then resulted in his imprisonment, and left the two girls abandoned in a strange land. 

Weeks later, Dính and Kha were separated by men who took them to work as domestic servants for two different Chinese families. 

Since the family whom Kha served did not like her, she was asked to leave their household, which allowed her to return to Vietnam. But no one heard about Dính’s whereabouts. 

 At home, Dà and Mị had another daughter, Mây (Hoa's younger sister, 13). She quit school in 3rd grade. They worry that the potential trafficking can take her away.

Human trafficking has been a long-standing problem in Vietnam for the last 15 years. Non-governmental organization Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation estimated about 60% of the victims and traffickers come from Vietnamese minority groups in 2021. 

Last May 2023, Blue Dragon called for emergency appeals after receiving more calls for help from victims. 

*Name is changed to protect the privacy.

The

The sun sets near the borderline that separates Vietnam and China. Taken from the side of Vietnam on December 06 2021.

Dính’s mother holds her image, which she keeps as her memento.

 The comb shared by Dính and Mây.

Dính’s father, Dà, gets drunk and lies on the ground to warm up.

“We don’t have any glimpse of hope to find her (Dính) trace. Even though the police were involved. The Chinese took her phone away. Dính was then said to be sold for 300 million VND (US$13200)”. Dà said.

 Mây is Dính’s younger sister, lying on the bed in her neighbor's home and watching cartoons. Double exposure.

 The mirror shared by Dính and Mây.

Dính’s mother sitting at her own bed at home. Low shutter speed. 


In front of the schoolyard nearby home, where Hoa, Mây and other kids often played together.

Read more on the Licas News.