Teenage sisters trapped in child labour after fuel price hikes push dad out of work
August 17, 2026
This story is featured in a recent article by The Associated Press.
When the price of diesel began to soar in March, Cuong lost his only source of income. A fisherman from the rocky coast of northern Vietnam, he used to go out to sea every day to provide for his wife and nine children. But the rise in fuel prices meant the boat owners Cuong works for couldn’t afford to operate anymore, so they moored their ships until further notice. Suddenly, Cuong didn’t know how he’d feed his children.
Blue Dragon first started working with Cuong’s family four years ago, after we met his daughters, Ly and Nhi, on the streets of Hanoi. They were selling candy to passersby to earn extra income for their parents and siblings. We accompanied the girls back home and got them back into school. For three years, they attended school regularly and enjoyed learning.
When the war in Iran began and Cuong lost his fishing job, the family had no choice but to take Ly and Nhi out of school and send them to Hanoi to find full-time work. The girls, now aged 16 and 13, eventually found jobs in a busy restaurant. The work was hard, tiring and, in the case of 13-year-old Nhi, illegal.
A Blue Dragon team member supports a family on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City.
In April, Blue Dragon learned about the girls’ situation at the restaurant and intervened. We reported the case to the authorities, who quickly launched an official investigation into the restaurant’s employment practices.
Blue Dragon accompanied Nhi home, where her parents and siblings were overjoyed to see her again. After supplying her with new clothes and school supplies, we got her back in school. She loves learning, and hasn’t missed a single class since returning.
Ly decided she’d like to stay in Hanoi and look for work, so we supported her with vocational training to become a barista. She’s already completed a short-term course, and we’re now focusing on getting her more training while connecting her to potential employers.
Despite positive developments for Nhi and Ly, their family’s future remains uncertain. Their father still takes on work around the village, like cleaning and construction gigs, but the income is unstable and insufficient to keep all of his children fed and in school.
While many global events are beyond our control, we can make a difference in the way they affect children and families in Vietnam. Whatever it takes, Blue Dragon will stick beside Cuong’s family – and every family who needs us – until they are able to thrive on their own.
