Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks that exploit digital technologies to carry out online scams and human trafficking, while strengthening victim protection and raising public awareness under a nationwide campaign marking the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc has signed a decision approving a plan to implement activities in response to the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and Vietnam's Anti-Human Trafficking Day (July 30) in 2026.
The plan aims to mobilise the involvement of the entire political system, ministries, local authorities and the public to combat human trafficking, while implementing key tasks set out in the Prime Minister's Human Trafficking Prevention and Control Programme for 2026–2030, with a vision to 2035, while ensuring the effective enforcement of the 2024 Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control (amended in 2025). The plan is aligned with the theme “Trapped behind the scam" of the 2026 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
A key focus will be raising public awareness of trafficking risks and criminal tactics, particularly fraudulent online recruitment schemes used to lure victims into trafficking operations. Authorities are tasked with detecting and eliminating criminal rings that use high technology to commit online fraud and human trafficking, both domestically and across borders, while ensuring the timely rescue and protection of victims and those undergoing victim identification procedures.
The ministries, ministry-level agencies, provincial and municipal People's Committees, as well as the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Supreme People's Court, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, socio-political organisations, and media outlets have been asked to implement coordinated communication campaigns through community outreach, official media channels and social media platforms.
Trusted public figures and online influencers (KOLs and KOCs) will also be encouraged to help raise awareness and promote public participation in anti-trafficking efforts.
The plan also calls for expanding effective community-based anti-trafficking models and warning the public about fake online job offers. Public education campaigns will incorporate legal knowledge, safe and legal migration guidance, and online safety skills.
Authorities will promote reporting channels, including the national anti-human trafficking hotline (111), the emergency police number (113), the crime reporting feature on the VNeID application, and official social media pages of the Ministry of Public Security and local police forces. They are also tasked with countering false and misleading narratives about the country's human trafficking situation.
The campaign will run from July 1 to September 30, 2026. Before August 1, the Ministry of Public Security, in coordination with Khanh Hoa province, the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, will organise a national ceremony calling for collective action against human trafficking.
Relevant ministries, together with local authorities, will strengthen victim rescue, identification and protection, particularly for citizens detained or forced to work in online scam centres and illegal online gambling operations overseas. They will also implement necessary consular protection measures.
The plan requires that all identified victims, individuals undergoing victim identification and accompanying minors receive timely support, protection and assistance in accordance with the law. Authorities must safeguard victims' personal information, prevent discrimination and facilitate their safe reintegration into society.
The Government also emphasised tackling the root causes of human trafficking by strengthening social welfare policies and livelihood support for vulnerable groups at greater risk of becoming trafficking victims.
During the campaign period, the VWU will expand psychological counselling, legal assistance, vocational training, livelihood support and access to financial services for women and girls returning from trafficking, helping them rebuild their lives and reduce the risk of re-victimisation./.
