VietNamNet Bridge – The Marriage and Family Law of Vietnam prohibits fraudulent marriage but fake marriages to go abroad at the price of $20,000 are popular without being fined because it is very difficult to prove a fake marriage.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khanh, Director of the Civil Status and Citizenship Department of the Ministry of Justice, said many overseas Vietnamese returned to Vietnam to get married, divorce and get married again.

He said a Vietnamese German got married and divorced three wives in nine years. On the fourth time, the Civil Status and Citizenship Department refused to grant marriage certificate for him. However, he can go to other provinces to perform the marriage procedures.

"I do not believe that that man constantly pursue new marriages for love. Actually, he made contracts of marriage to take Vietnamese women abroad," Khanh said.

The official proposed to have sanctions against fake marriages, not only refusing to grant marriage certificates. In addition, the number of fake marriage that are detected and rejected is modest.

A draft decree compiled by the Ministry of Justice proposed VND10-20 million fine ($500-1,000) on fraudulent marriage to go abroad. However, experts said that it is difficult to define fake marriage and the purpose of this behavior. The Government offices also required the compilation group to review and describe specific in order to ensure the feasibility of the law.

Mr. Ha Ke Vinh, chief inspector of the Ministry of Justice, the Marriage and Family Law does not specify the purpose of marriage as a condition of marriage, nor how is the fake marriage behavior. There are many different interpretations, which are inconsistent and does not describe the fake marriage behavior. Therefore, he proposed to not fine fraudulent marriage until the Marriage and Family Law is revised.

Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thuy Hien said that it is necessary to sanction fake marriage for "taking advantage of the marriage for the purpose of entry and exit; to get Vietnamese or foreign citizenship; sexual abuse, labor exploitation and other purposes in violation of the law."

However, many experts commented that the sanction is unfeasible since it is very difficult to prove the purpose of the violators.

Tran Cham