To cope, some are turning to a growing but discreet market: renting a boyfriend or girlfriend for the holiday. Thong, 30, who manages a household goods shop in Ho Chi Minh City, said he had considered hiring a woman to pose as his girlfriend for several days during the Lunar New Year holiday, due in a week. In previous years, his former partner had visited his family during the holiday, and this year he felt unprepared to face questions from relatives. Another man, Minh, 25, who helps run his family's business at a wholesale market in Ho Chi Minh City, said he was also searching for a rented partner ahead of a trip home to Ca Mau Province. In one closed group, a woman using the name Thao V. described offering full-day dating services around Ho Chi Minh City, including meals, social events, and private movie rooms.

Source: Tuoitre News February 08, 2026 03:35 UTC