More Than 100 Vietnamese Brides Vanish After Marrying Men From Rural China

Chinese police are on the trail of more than 100 Vietnamese brides who

vanished after marrying bachelors from a poor rural area of the

country, with reports suggesting that an organised ring could be

behind the disappearances. Read more from ABC news:



The grooms, from Quzhou in northern Hebei province, were introduced to

the women by Wu Meiyu, a Vietnamese bride who had lived in the area

for 20 years, the China Daily said.



Ms Wu, who received payments of more than 100,000 yuan ($19,000) if

the introductions were successful, also disappeared with the 100

women, the report added. The state-run newspaper cited an unnamed

local official saying an organised ring might be involved in the mass

disappearance.



"With the advanced communication techniques of today, it's easy for

all the brides to leave at the same time," the man told the newspaper.



Buying wives from south-east Asian countries has become increasingly

common in some of China's poor rural areas, where a gender imbalance

has developed due to a traditional preference for sons and the

country's family planning policies.



Across China, 118 males are born for every 100 females, according to

government statistics. In some rural areas men can be expected to own

a house, car, and have considerable wealth before they can attract a

Chinese bride, a cost the China Daily said could reach 400,000 yuan.