Words and illustration by Adrian Truong
As one of the 20.4 million Vietnamese individuals who fall into the age bracket of under 25. When I was a kid, I witnessed some strange things. Students having sex in school restrooms or girls dropping out for reasons their families wouldn’t talk about, only to find out they became parents while still in high school. While young people in Vietnam (as in the rest of the world) are sexually active, the country’s lack of sex education is causing all sorts of problems in terms of society and health.
The legal system’s struggle to effectively penalize sexual offenses and ensure the safety of children and young women has led to a troubling rise in child abuse and rape cases. In 2021, 57.6% of adolescents engaged in unprotected intercourse, with the average age of sexual exposure being 14, according to data from the World Health Organisation. These recent stats are quite disturbing. All the more reason to provide comprehensive sex education in light of these statistics.
Not to mention that many Vietnamese youth, including myself, burdened with an incredibly heavy course load of thirteen mandatory disciplines, approached sex education as just another homework assignment, rather than the important topic it is.
Virtual private networks allow young people to bypass Vietnam’s internet restrictions on pornographic sites, which blocks access to all of these sites from any device in the country. This puts them at risk of exposure to harmful misconceptions regarding sexuality and relationships, particularly in the absence of adequate education and awareness.
Sexual and reproductive health services remain inaccessible to certain populations, including those living in rural areas, migrant groups, and minority groups. I was fortunate to have a bit more education on sex because of my urban upbringing, yet there were still a lot of challenges. The problem is exacerbated when parents and teachers avoid talking about sensitive topics like relationships, sex, and gender. As a curious young person, I snuck online to get my questions answered. Being fluent in English at the time gave me a leg up when it came to getting my hands on information, unlike other kids my age. Studying everything I could get my hands on, from pornographic material, erotica, and romantic films to online forums, talk shows on YouTube. Above all else, I learnt my lessons the hard way, from a string of failed relationships. Afterwards, I’d pass the knowledge on to my closest friends and those in need, becoming something of a pseudo-advisor in the realm of relationships.
Efforts to include sex education in biology and life skills classes have been going on for years, but there are still big holes (pun not intended). A shortage of qualified educators and a well-rounded curriculum impedes effective sex education. Abstinence and what to do with unexpected pregnancies form the basis of the present approach, but it does nothing to tackle huge systemic problems, including safe relationships, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Human Rights Watch confirmed this in February 2020 when they said that Vietnam’s sex education didn’t live up to international standards and didn’t include LGBT concerns in the required discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity.
Dr. Tu Anh Hoang, who is both a co-founder and director of the Creative Initiatives in Health and Population in Hanoi, believes that Vietnamese teens and young adults have their first sexual experience at a much later age—around 16 or 17—than their European counterparts. Despite this, more unintended pregnancies and abortions occur in Vietnam than in many European nations. Even now, many Vietnamese institutions just hire an expert for a few classes instead of creating an extensive curriculum covering the topic. Sex-ed in the nation is often compared to eating “instant noodles”—a quick fix with limited long-term advantages.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and WHO, the rate of sexual intercourse among Vietnamese children under the age of 14 has more than doubled in the past decade. Furthermore, the Vietnam People’s Army Newsletter 2022 reports that between 250,000 and 300,000 abortions are carried out annually, indicating a high rate of abortion in the country. Some troubling cases include a girl giving birth at the age of 11 in Phu Tho province in November 2022, as well as a seventh grader giving birth in the family bathroom without anyone’s knowledge, including her parents in February 2024. These stats show how inadequate the present methods of sex education are.
It is not uncommon for adults in positions of authority to be unprepared emotionally, intellectually, or behaviorally to facilitate a safe space for students to talk about sexual health education. My parents were the same, they would avoid discussing sexuality whenever I asked, scolding me if they discovered that I was visiting pornographic websites, describing them as “depraved” and “indecent,” and claiming that young children like me had no business being exposed to such content. As a result, kids don’t have someone they can confide in or go to for answers on gender and relationships. Parents’ outmoded views on sexuality and relationships, compounded by a limited restriction on internet access, contribute to children’s misconceptions and false beliefs.
Given the emergence of these issues, several groups have already initiated responses to these threats. From elementary school through high school, students learn from certified sex educators at WeGrow Edu how to be safe in relationships and with their bodies. All 32 of Vinschool’s campuses follow its curriculum, which emphasises gender equality and self-identity.
The United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation host sex education workshops in Hanoi called Training of Trainers sessions to improve sex education in Vietnam in the long run.
The Vietnam Women’s Union is working to find solutions to the problems of teen pregnancies, increasing public awareness of the issue and providing support to parents and carers. Vice President Minh Huong, Nguyen Thi, is leading this effort. To provide parental education programmes nationally, they collaborate with the Ministry of Training and Education.
Speaking as a young Vietnamese person, I can say sex education is a shockingly persistent issue that has caused trauma over generations. Our plight is not unique; other South-east Asian, South Asian, and Asian nations face similar challenges. Growing up, it broke my heart to witness adults choked by their own views causing children to suffer through lack of knowledge and understanding. The Eastern world needs to wake up and realise that sex education needs to be more than just pregnancy prevention; we need to learn about our bodies and hormones, what consent is, the pleasure of sex and how it can be healthy if we respect one another’s bodies.
So, what Can We Do?
If you are living in this kind of environment: Take initiative within your local communities to promote comprehensive sex education. Engage with schools, community centres, and local organisations to support sex education programs and policies. Your efforts can help create a more informed and safer environment for future generations.
If luck is on your side: Share your experiences and best practices in sex education with those in need. Support international initiatives and organisations working to improve sex education globally. Your knowledge and advocacy can contribute significantly to the development of effective sex education programs in Vietnam.
Cultural biases, a lack of oversight over pornographic content, and insufficient financing all contribute to Asia’s and Vietnam’s sex education systems falling short of global norms. Still, many groups are keeping at it, so there is hope for change. To encourage positive relationship development among its youth and increase their economic contribution to the nation.
After becoming a victim of this system, I wish there had been a safer place for me to talk about my issues and get answers, rather than having to depend so much on the Internet, where false information may be found at any moment. Culture shock hit me when I arrived in Australia for school and employment; I had never before had the opportunity to receive an adequate education on the subject of sex, gender, and relationships, and I was shocked by how casually and comfortably people here talked about these topics. I aspire to be a dependable parent someday so that my own children might have a better upbringing than I had.
It’s time for all of us to take an active role in improving sex education for those in need. Whether you are a parent, a young person, or planning to have children in the future, your involvement can make a significant difference. Let’s work together to create a safer, more informed, and supportive environment for everyone. Start conversations, stay educated, and advocate for better policies and programs. Together, we can make a positive impact on the future of sex education in our country.
