Vientiane hotel halts ring-toss game amid digital outcry

A Chinese-owned hotel in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, was forced to terminate its ring-toss game, in which Chinese men took turns tossing hoops at young Lao women to win wine and beer, according to Radio Free Asia.
The decision was made after a short video of the game went viral and received angry comments criticizing the treatment of women in such a manner.
RFA reported that the video showed a dozen young Lao women standing still on steps outside the building as a group of Chinese men took turns throwing hoops at them, hoping to ring their bodies for cans and bottles of beer, wine, or spirits they held.
The video was posted on February 15 on the Facebook page of Joseph Akaravong. He questioned why Lao officials allowed the hotel to use women as part of a game, asking, "What does the Lao Women's Union say about this kind of action? Isn't it illegal? It's not like stealing values. Are these people human?"
The post received more than 4,000 comments and 3,300 shares, with most people denouncing it as inappropriate behavior that degraded the women's dignity.
"We only see this activity at festivals where vendors use ducks as prizes, not to use humans to hold prizes," one Lao citizen, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told RFA.
"The majority of Laotians view this activity as demeaning to Lao women and girls. It is very heartless."
According to RFA, many Laotians also resent the influx of Chinese people who have poured into the landlocked country in recent decades to set up businesses, build large-scale infrastructure projects, and even engage in illegal activities.
A hotel manager told RFA that the management was aware of the video and that such games would be banned. She explained that the game was intended as an activity to celebrate the Lunar New Year."