Love On Lease: Vietnam Women Are Hiring BFs To Introduce To Parents

"When are you settling down?" -- This question is a frustrating, yet common question that most adults in Asian families hear regularly. The stubborn expectation to lead a heteronormative, conventional life is deeply ingrained in many cultures and Vietnam is no exception. To navigate the stigma around being unmarried, many people in the Southeast Asian country are turning to 'partner rental services', where one can hire fake partners just to introduce them to their parents.

'Must Be Tall, Fit'

According to the South China Morning Post, most of the individuals looking to hire fake partners are women, underscoring the intense societal pressure on women to conform to traditional roles of marriage and family. The outlet shared the stories of many women renting partners.

Minh Thu, 30, was repeatedly asked by her parents to bring a boyfriend home for the Lunar New Year. Unable to find a suitable partner, she resorted to hiring one for the day. The man, skilled in domestic chores and social graces, successfully impressed her family SCMP reported.

Another woman, Khanh Ngoc, rented a "handsome, younger man" who charmed her parents during a visit and strengthened the family's bond. With the demand for rental partners slowly increasing, many men have been stepping into the role of 'professional rental boyfriends.'

Huy Tuan, a 25-year-old man from Hanoi, explained the typical pricing system of such fake dates. A coffee date or shopping outing costs a few hundred thousand Vietnamese dong (US$10-$20) for a two-hour session, while a family meeting costs around 1 million Vietnamese dong (US$40).

Tuan explained the criteria to increase his chances of getting hired. “I have to go to the gym, learn to sing, cook, take photos, and work on my conversation skills to meet the expectations of many clients,” he told the outlet. He has been a fake boyfriend to various clients for over a year.

The rental partner trend is not unique to Vietnam as many other Asian countries like South Korea, China, and Thailand have flourishing markets for this business. In China, renting during high-demand seasons like the Lunar New Year can cost up to 1,000 yuan (US$140) per day.

Implications Of This Trend

Though a quick solution, critics warn that rental partnerships can have serious consequences. Nguyen Thanh Nga, a media researcher said, “If exposed, families could experience significant emotional damage and lose trust. Renting a partner is not legally protected, so women should be cautious.”

Social media users also shared their views on this trend. One Instagram user commented on a post, "Renting a partner is a win-win – it makes your parents happy and alleviates pressure on you.” Another said, "I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it would be for parents to find out it was a lie.”