On April 27, Bac Giang Provincial Police announced they had initiated a criminal case, prosecuted, and detained Duong Thi Thao (30 years old, owner of Moonlight massage parlor), Duong Dinh Kien (28 years old), and Hoang Thi Ngoc (30 years old), both from Thai Nguyen Province, for unlawful detention.

At the Moonlight karaoke and massage facility, located in Doi Ngo Town, Luc Nam District, Bac Giang, young women  -  some only 13 or 14 years old  -  were held against their will and subjected to physical abuse over extended periods by individuals associated with the establishment.

Rescue and shocking conditions revealed

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Suspect Duong Thi Thao, owner of the Moonlight karaoke and massage parlor. Photo: Police source

Hoang Thi Phi N., a 16-year-old from Ha Giang Province, was among those rescued by the Bac Giang Criminal Police Division at the end of March, after nearly two years of being unlawfully detained at Moonlight.

N. recalled that in May 2023, she searched for work on Facebook and responded to a job posting advertising cleaning and café service roles. She traveled by bus from Ha Giang to My Dinh Bus Station in Hanoi, where she was picked up and brought to Moonlight karaoke and massage parlor.

Initially, she signed a work contract with a promised salary of 5 million VND per month (approximately 200 USD) for cleaning duties. However, she was later forced to entertain karaoke guests and provide massage services. Any mistakes or customer complaints resulted in physical punishment.

Strict control measures inside the facility

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Victims worked long hours and were barred from leaving the walled compound. Photo: Police

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Sleeping quarters tightly supervised and monitored by the suspects. Photo: Police source

To prevent detection by family members and authorities, Duong Thi Thao assigned Duong Dinh Kien and Hoang Thi Ngoc to supervise and strictly monitor the girls.

The staff were confined to a sealed-off area, surrounded by high walls. Their living quarters consisted of tightly packed triple bunk beds. Their daily work schedule ran from 8:00 AM to noon, and again from 3:00 PM until 3:00 AM the following day.

Upon arrival, the girls’ phones and ID cards were confiscated. Rarely, they were allowed to call home  -  always under supervision  -  and instructed only to report that they were doing well.

Kien and Ngoc slept in the same rooms with the girls and locked the doors with double security layers at night to prevent any escapes.

The girls were even forced to adopt false names assigned by their captors, making it extremely difficult to seek help from the outside.

Attempts to escape and despair among victims

N. was just one of 18 victims confined at Moonlight. Among them were two girls aged only 13 and 14, originating from provinces in northwestern Vietnam.

The remaining victims, primarily between the ages of 16 and 20, came from various provinces nationwide, with many from the northwest region.

Several girls attempted to escape  -  some making up to four failed attempts. In one case, overwhelmed by desperation, a girl tried to ingest rodenticide she found within the compound. Fortunately, she was rescued in time, and no tragic consequences occurred.

Bao Khanh