Fear and regrets haunt Vietnamese brides in China

Chen Jinning, a Vietnamese bride, and her 34-year-old husband, Wang Jinwu, a cripple, in Raoping county, Chaozhou of South China's Guangdong province on Mar 20, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

"We cannot pay social security for them. If it is noticed by the authority, the factory will be fined," said Zhang Jianhong, owner of the toy factory. "We hired them without knowledge of the policy, but we will not hire any more."

A foreigner is able to work in China on condition that they have a green card or approved permission. To earn permission they have to provide authority with employment evidence in related industries or a diploma of corresponding majors.

Most Vietnamese brides like Yang, who neither has a high-level of education nor professional skills, are not qualified to get the work permission. Theoretically, they cannot work to support themselves until getting a green card.

A profile of 20 interviewed foreign marriage families in Huzhu village shows that most lead a meager life, mainly because the condition of the husband is far from good.

The four characteristics of local men who marry Vietnamese women, are poor, dull, old or disabled, said Yang Jinrong, a worker with the publicity department of Changtai county, Zhangzhou, who participated in a report of local Vietnanese brides.

Yang Qimei's husband is a typical poor man, 42, who crams his big family, including two brothers, into a one-room thatched house.

If Yang Qimei stopped earning a salary the family would be reduced to a more miserable state.