VietNamNet Bridge – If anyone see this number "8932006280207," he/she may think that this is  bar code of goods but it is the story about the life of a “special product’ – a six-year-old kid.

893 is the origin of goods from Vietnam, 2006 is year of birth and 280207 is the date that the kid was traded. This is the message in the “Bar Code” photo exhibition by photographer Na Son, about human trafficking in the border province of Ha Giang.

The exhibition displays 20 photos. Each of them is the story of a victim of human trafficking, who were rescued. Their faces are covered by bar codes, which are only used for goods.




Vang M.L (2003) left and Vang My L (2006) in Yen Minh district, Ha Giang province, are living
at the Ha Giang Social Patronage Center. At night of February 28, 2007, human traffickers broke
into their home to kill their parents and arrested the two kids to sell to China.
Vang Thi C (1987) in Yen Minh, Ha Giang, was cheated by a man named Kien to go to a
Chinese market with him. They were sold in September 2006.
Hau Thi C (1974) and her daughter Vang Thi G (2010) in Yen Minh was sold to China by a
man named Hau Sao Sinh, at the price of 9,000 yuan in October 2010.
Hoang Thi D (1989) in Cao Bang Province was sold to China on May 5, 2011, at the price of
2,000 yuan, by a woman named Hau Thi Do, from Ha Giang.
When their parents were at work, four children of Mr. Vang Mi Lo in Meo Vac were taken
 to China for sale on January 25, 2007, at the price of 8,000 yuan.
Many women and children in the border province of Ha Giang are victims of human traffickers,
who are even relatives, friends and neighbors of victims.
The exhibition also introduces an installation artwork named “Goods…” by Doan Hoang Kien.
Hair is the major material of this work. Hair is put in glass vases. There are also bar codes on the covers.
Kien explained that hair is very important for human so he sees it as the human condition which
is detained in vases and displayed like goods. Through this work, the artist wants to give a warning of human trafficking.








Thanh Van