How sex tourists from Japan, China and beyond are stealing Lao girls’ future

In a quiet corner of the Lao capital Vientiane, an unremarkable compound conceals a dark and exploitative operation.

Behind one door, a room resembling a junior school classroom is filled with girls, some perhaps as young as 10 years old.

An investigation has found that foreign men, including Japanese nationals, are among those who frequent such places for sex.

The child sex trade has become a pressing concern in Laos, where underground compounds operate discreetly but openly enough to be found through social media or word of mouth.

Multiple establishments were identified in Vientiane serving clients from China, South Korea and Japan.

In June this year, the Japanese embassy in Laos issued a warning on its website urging its nationals to avoid involvement in exploitative activities, citing concerns raised by posts on social media.