Download the 2025 report in pdf.
Background
Vietnam has experienced rapid economic growth in recent years. However, politically, the country remains tightly controlled by the Communist Party, which tolerates no challenge to its authority. There are virtually no checks and balances: no political pluralism, no press freedom, and no independent judiciary. Over the past year, Vietnam has continued to face serious human rights challenges, particularly regarding freedom of expression, religion, and the treatment of political prisoners.
In May 2025, several imprisoned activists, including Le Dinh Luong, Bui Tuan Lam, and Le Trong Hung, went on hunger strike to protest harsh detention conditions. Le Dinh Luong reportedly requested medical care and access to a Bible but was subsequently placed in prolonged solitary confinement, denied family visits and basic supplies. Similarly, Bui Tuan Lam was shackled and isolated as punishment.
In a separate case, Trinh Ba Phuong, already serving a ten-year sentence since June 2020, received an additional eleven years in prison for alleged “propaganda against the state.” The charge stemmed from a handwritten paper in his cell stating “Down with communism” and “Down with the court who convicted me unjustly.” Diplomats from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the European Union were prevented from observing the proceedings at the Da Nang court.
Religious repression also intensified. In September, members of the Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands were briefly detained and pressured to abandon their church in favor of the government-controlled Evangelical Church of Vietnam- South. In October, Pastor Y Nuen Ayun was arrested under Article 116 of the Penal Code (“sabotaging national unity”), a broadly defined provision frequently used to target ethnic and religious minorities.
On October 29, 2025, Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by five years of house arrest for “propaganda against the state.” Nguyen Manh Hung’s lawyer was only able to access to his client’s case file 48 hours before the trial. The lawyer and his client were able to meet for the first time just 24 hours before the trial. This is how Vietnam respects the rights of the defense.
Despite early hopes that To Lam’s rise to power might bring reform and greater respect for human rights, his leadership has instead been marked by continued political repression and consolidation of control within the Communist Party. The cases of Le Dinh Luong, Trinh Ba Phuong, and Pastor Y Nuen Ayun highlight the absence of judicial independence and ongoing persecution of dissenting voices.
During Vietnam’s review before the UN Human Rights Committee in July 2025, the government denied the existence of political prisoners or mistreatment in detention, asserting full compliance with international standards. However, reports from families and civil society continue to document widespread abuse, poor prison conditions, and the criminalization of peaceful activism, in
contradiction with Vietnam’s obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture.
Vietnamese authorities say they are still willing to promote human rights but continue to refuse to authorize the creation of an independent human rights monitoring body.
Where are prisoners of conscience detained in Vietnam ?
Support Vietnamese human rights defenders and pro-democracy activists:
- During meetings with Vietnamese officials, please raise concerns about prisoners of conscience, including the following individuals who face long prison sentences and mistreatment in detention: Le Dinh Luong, Pham Doan Trang, Dang Dinh Bach, Trinh Ba Phuong, Nguyen Van Tuc, Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton, Truong Minh Duc, Nguyen Van Vien, Tran Van Quyen, Le Dinh Cong, and Le Dinh Chuc.
- Request Embassy officials in Vietnam to regularly visit imprisoned political activists. Even if those requests are denied, the effort makes Vietnamese officials aware that the international community is paying attention, helping political prisoners avoid mistreatment and improve detention conditions.
- Request prisoners of conscience be imprisoned near their family home. Most of them are imprisoned more than 1000 kilometers (600+ miles) from their families, which is a form of isolation and torture.
- Request that prisoners of conscience receive a yearly health checkup made by a doctor the family chooses, because the unhygienic prison condition and mistreatment causes the health of the activist to quickly decline.
- Request that prisoners of conscience be able to speak with their families and lawyers without the presence of prison guards or police.
- To request that prisoners be allowed to freely practice their faith in prison: access to a Bible, attending religious services, and going to confession.
- Request Embassy officials in Vietnam to receive family members of imprisoned activists on special occasions such as International Human Rights Day, the Lunar New Year, and the National Day of your country, etc.
Support online freedom of expression:
- Urge major internet companies to not comply with the Vietnamese government’s demand to censor content when that content does not violate any international standards.
Deepen focus on legal reform:
- Call for the repeal of Articles 109 (Subversion), 117 (Propaganda against the Vietnam state), 118 (Public disorder) and 331 (Abuse of democratic freedoms) in the Vietnamese Penal Code, which are used to silence political opposition.
- Urge Vietnam to ratify the Optional Protocol of the UN Convention Against Torture and all the ILO conventions to protects workers.
- Continue to request Embassy officials to attend political trials.
Always include concerns about human rights in engagements with Vietnam:
- Incorporate calls for legal reform into the agenda when promoting higher education and trade with Vietnam.
- Develop a roadmap linking human rights improvements with closer security and trade ties.
- Establish benchmarks during human rights dialogue with Vietnam. Insist on human rights progress as a condition to any high level delegation visit
List of biographies of prisoners of conscience included in the 2025 report:
- Bui Tuan Lam
- Bui Van Thuan
- Can Thi Theu
- Dang Dang Phuoc
- Dang Dinh Bach
- Dinh Thi Thu Thuy
- Duong Tuan Ngoc
- Duong Van Thai
- Hoang Duc Binh
- Le Manh Ha
- Le Dinh Cong
- Le Dinh Chuc
- Le Van Dung
- Le Huu Minh Tuan
- Le Dinh Luong
- Ngo Thi To Nhien
- Nguyen Chi Tuyen
- Nguyen Lan Thang
- Nguyen Manh Hung
- Nguyen Nang Tinh
- Nguyen Trung Ton
- Nguyen Trung Truc
- Nguyen Tuong Thuy
- Nguyen Van Tuc
- Nguyen Vu Binh
- Nguyen Van Vien
- Pham Chi Dung
- Pham Doang Trang
- Pham Son Tung
- Pnan Tat Thanh
- Tran Duc Thach
- Tran Van Bang
- Tran Thi Xuan
- Truong Minh Duc
- Tran Van Quyen
- Trinh Ba Phuong
- Trinh Ba Tu
- Truong Van Dung
- Y Nuen Ayun
- Y Krec Bya
- Y Quynh Bdap