Japanese child sex tourists contributing to lost generation of girls in Laos

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VIENTIANE - In a quiet corner of the Lao capital Vientiane, an unremarkable compound conceals a dark and exploitative operation.

Behind one door, a room resembling an elementary school classroom is filled with girls, some perhaps as young as 10 years old.

An investigation by Kyodo News has found that foreign men, including Japanese nationals, are among those who frequent such places for sex.

The child sex trade has become a pressing concern in Laos, where underground compounds operate discreetly but openly enough to be found through social media or word of mouth.

Multiple establishments were identified in Vientiane serving clients from China, South Korea and Japan.

In June 2025, the Japanese Embassy in Laos issued a warning on its website urging its nationals to avoid involvement in exploitative activities, citing concerns raised by posts on social media.

The embassy warned that using child prostitution services overseas is also subject to punishment under the child prostitution and pornography prohibition act at home.

One compound visited by a Kyodo News reporter hosted a group of Japanese men who believed the journalist was also a tourist and allowed him to join.

A local man acted as guide, leading them first to a room where around 10 girls, estimated to be in their mid-teens, were waiting. When a request was made for “younger” girls, the group was taken deeper inside.

In a back room, about 10 children were seen sitting or lying on thin mattresses. The reporter departed as the visitors each chose a girl and moved toward hotel rooms within the compound.

At least three other similar compounds operate in the city, some disguised as restaurants. Staff told reporters