According to Tran Thanh Nam, who has a doctorate in Child and Adolescent Psychology, 10 percent of polled ninth graders and 39 percent of 12th graders said they have had sexual intercourse.  

Among high school students who reported having had sex, 29.5 percent of males reported not using a condom the last time. Only 8 percent of females said they used at least one contraceptive method (including many unscientific methods such as drinking lemonade and cleaning vagina afterwards with lemon).

Nam said that 10 percent of high school students reported having had sex with three or more people, and 15 percent used stimulants in the latest relationship, including alcohol and drugs.

About 20 percent of high school students experienced sexual harassment in school, but 80 percent of them said it was just flirting or teasing. Around 25 percent of students reported being bullied or harassed through emails, phone calls or dating texts.

The average age of first sexual intercourse in the US is around 18, the same in Vietnam, according to a national survey of youth. 

However, there is a big difference in the abortion rate between the US and Vietnam. In the US, programs on sex education, reproductive health and sexuality education have been carried out in an effective way. 

This can also be explained by cultural differences. While American students feel they talk about their problems, Vietnamese tend to avoid talking about the issues, even though they don’t know much about contraceptive methods.

Talking with children about love and sex remains a taboo for parents, according to Nam.

In many families, parents try to prevent their children from falling in love and starting sexual intercourse early by magnifying the dangers they may face. Some parents tell their daughters not to believe in love, because love will only bring misery.

As a result, children don’t seek advice from their parents if they have problems, and they believe that loving someone and having sex with someone are irredeemable mistakes.

Local newspapers have reported that a female student in Nghe An province killed herself after a video clip that showed her kissing her boyfriend in class spread on internet.

“I suggest that parents prepare for sex education right after their children’s birth,” Nam said.

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Chi Mai