Van* was born and raised in Sa Pa, Lao Cai Province. When she was only four years old, her father passed away, marking the start of hardship and instability. Van often lacked adequate food, warm clothing, and the opportunity to attend school like other children her age.
At 15 years old, Van met a man through social media who introduced himself as a H’Mong man living in Lao Cai City. Sharing the same ethnic background and similar life experiences, they began communicating frequently and gradually became close. Over time, the man expressed romantic interest, and Van agreed to become his girlfriend, believing she had found someone she could trust.
Shortly after, the man invited Van to travel to Lao Cai City to meet him in person. Trusting his intentions, she followed his instructions and took a bus to the city. Upon arrival, he brought her to a guesthouse and asked her to wait. A short while later, three unfamiliar men arrived and told Van they were taking her to China to get married. It was then that she realized she had been deceived. Alone in an unfamiliar place, with no knowledge of the area and no one she could turn to, Van was unable to escape.
Because she was underage and lacked legal travel documents, the traffickers led Van through forest paths to cross the border illegally. Shortly after arriving in China, she was stopped by Chinese police during an administrative check. Authorities discovered the illegal border crossing and brought Van to the police station for investigation. Following coordination between Chinese and Vietnamese authorities, Van was handed over to Vietnamese officials through the Lao Cai border gate.
Upon return, Van was referred to Pacific Links Foundation’s Compassion House, where she received essential care, psychosocial support, and vocational training in hairdressing, helping her build confidence, skills, and a sense of safety after her traumatic experience.
With continued support, Van reunited with her family in Sa Pa and is now building a stable and independent future. Her case demonstrates the importance of coordinated repatriation mechanisms and holistic reintegration services in restoring safety, dignity, and long-term resilience.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality.
