Thousands of Vietnamese migrants forced into slavery in the UK

An investigation by The Times has revealed the growing scale of modern slavery affecting Vietnamese migrants in the UK, with thousands trafficked through Europe into exploitative work in nail bars, cannabis farms, and brothels.

The trafficking routes often begin in Nghe An province, central Vietnam, where families invest heavily—often using loan sharks—to send relatives abroad.

These journeys are fuelled by false promises of high earnings in the UK, and driven by the hope of escaping poverty.

More than 70,000 undocumented Vietnamese migrants are believed to be in Britain.

“We were lied to about life in the UK,” said one migrant. “I could starve to death and no one would know.”

Smugglers operate a well-established network, advising migrants to attend nail academies in Hanoi to learn basic English and British etiquette. Some of these academies are directly linked to trafficking operations.

From there, many travel legally to Europe on forged tourist visas before entering the UK clandestinely via lorries or small boats from France.

Migrants pay thousands of euros for the journey, often falling into severe debt. On arrival, many are met by Vietnamese gangs who assign them to work under harsh and unsafe conditions.

Cannabis farms and nail bars are the most common destinations, where migrants live under constant surveillance, receive little or no pay, and are often subject to threats or violence. Children are among those working on the farms.

The National Referral Mechanism, which identifies potential victims of modern slavery and human trafficking, has consistently recorded Vietnamese nationals as the most frequently referred foreign group after British citizens. In the first quarter of this year alone, 700 suspected Vietnamese victims were reported.

Unseen, the UK’s modern slavery helpline, also reported Vietnamese nationals as the most common child victims of slavery in the UK.

Without legal work status, many trafficked individuals are left vulnerable, unsupported, and trapped in exploitation for years. Some turn to prostitution or are forced to work to repay debts. Others remain hidden, fearful of authorities and the criminal gangs who control them.

More must be done to support victims, identify those at risk, and ensure safe routes out of exploitation. Stronger efforts are also needed to prosecute traffickers operating across borders and within the UK.