May 3, 2026
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Viet Tan wishes to highlight a troubling reality: there is no genuine press freedom in Vietnam. All authorized media outlets operate under the strict control of the communist regime and are subject to systematic censorship.
In this environment, where professional journalists are unable to work freely, Vietnamese citizen journalists have stepped in to inform the public. Through social media platforms, they share news, analysis, and firsthand accounts, helping to challenge the monopoly of official propaganda.
However, even this digital space is far from free. Vietnamese authorities closely monitor online activity and harshly repress dissenting voices. Many citizen journalists have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms simply for expressing critical opinions. Independent voices in exile are not safe either: some are tried in absentia and handed sentences of up to 17 years in prison, such as Le Trung Khoa and Nguyen Van Dai, both based in Germany.
In addition, numerous Facebook and YouTube content creators have been targeted by coordinated campaigns of abusive reporting orchestrated by state-linked actors. Under false claims of intellectual property violations, these reports often result in account suspensions or removals, further restricting access to independent information.
The authorities in Hanoi have also exerted direct pressure on major digital platforms, including Meta, to limit access to certain sources of information. Between December 2025 and April 2026, dozens of Facebook pages operated from abroad were geo-blocked in Vietnam, including those of Viet Tan and Chan Troi Moi Media. This has deprived tens of millions of Vietnamese people of essential access to independent and diverse sources of information.
In an environment dominated by state propaganda and relentless attacks by cyber operatives against critical voices, Viet Tan calls on all Vietnamese internet users to take action. Every individual can become a citizen journalist by sharing and disseminating the information that the authorities seek to suppress. In doing so, they can help break the wall of disinformation constructed by the regime.
On this World Press Freedom Day, Viet Tan pays tribute to the courage of all Vietnamese citizen journalists imprisoned for their beliefs, including Pham Chi Dung, Pham Doan Trang, Nguyen Lan Thang, Tran Duc Thach, Le Van Dung, Truong Minh Duc, Nguyen Tuong Thuy and many others.
Their commitment and sacrifice are a powerful reminder that press freedom is never guaranteed—it must be defended every day.
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