Vietnamese women arrested in prostitution crackdown in Bangkok

Ten Vietnamese women were arrested in a prostitution crackdown in Thailand.

The suspected sex workers allegedly solicited clients on the streets of Bangkok, competing with prostitutes to cash in on tourists looking for holiday romances.

Undercover officers prowled the Soi Sukhumvit 4 area in the Khlong Toei district to monitor the hookers allegedly propositioning men for paid sex. They later swooped in and arrested them on May 22.

The women were charged with 'approaching, soliciting, introducing themselves to, following, or pestering people in public places for the purpose of prostitution in a manner considered open, shameful, or causing a public nuisance'.

Footage shows the long-haired suspects, seen wearing short dresses that showed off their fair-skinned, slender legs, being grilled by officers at the Lumphini district station. They turned their faces away from the camera to hide their identities.

Officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security issued fines before transferring the women to Immigration Division 1.

All suspects were taken to the Immigration Bureau for visa revocation and deportation procedures.

Police said that Bangkok has become an attractive destination for foreign sex workers, who can earn more than they can in their homeland.

One Vietnamese sex worker, who was not caught up in the raid, told how she sees up to 10 men a night - each of whom pays between 2,000 Baht (45 GBP) and 3,000 Baht (68 GBP) for a short romp.

She said: 'A couple of years ago there were not many Vietnamese girls. Now there are so many, it's harder to compete. But I still see around 10 people a night on a busy day. I send all of the money back to my family in Vietnam to support them.'

The arrests come on the same day police raided a Chinese-run brothel disguised as a wellness spa in Rayong, Thailand, where undercover officers allegedly uncovered illegal prostitution services for Chinese clients.

Investigators said staff offered ‘body-to-body' massages and sex sessions costing 4,500 baht, while upstairs rooms stocked with condoms and lubricants had reportedly been converted into a brothel.

Eight foreigners, including two Chinese managers, two Vietnamese women, and four Myanmar nationals, were detained on prostitution, immigration, and illegal employment charges.