You Can Dance If You Want to ... Just Not in Vietnam

Ban mulled to curb drugs, prostitution
By Jess Kilby,  Newser Staff
Posted May 11, 2009 8:19 PM CDT
You Can Dance If You Want to ... Just Not in Vietnam
Vietnam is considering a ban on dancing in karaoke bars to combat drug use and prostitution. Regular nightclubs would not be affected by the measure.   (AP Photo/Israel Leal)

Vietnam is considering a measure aimed at eliminating drugs and prostitution that might seem strange to Westerners: banning dancing. The edict would only apply to karaoke bars, reports GlobalPost, and it has a surprising amount of support from people who agree that dancing in such venues is usually a cover for kids doing drugs or adults making use of escort services.

“If I were an ordinary young person I might be against the decree,” says one 21-year-old, “but I’m a singer and I have directly witnessed the things that go on in small bars and karaoke clubs.” Others aren’t so thrilled with the idea. “If the government wants to ban it, they should create other places for us to dance,” says one college student. “When the government cannot control something, they ban it.”
(More Vietnam stories.)

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