Vietnam Sentences Former Attorney Tran Dinh Trien to Three Years Under Controversial Article 331; US-Vietnam Hold 28th Human Rights Dialogue in Hanoi

The Vietnamese Magazine -

Key Events

  • Tran Dinh Trien, Former Hanoi Bar Leader, Receives Three-Year Sentence Under Article 331
  • Police Restructure: Vietnam to Strengthen Grassroots Operations, Cut District Units
  • Ahead of Appeal, Vietnam Appeals to Y Quynh Bdap’s Family for His Voluntary Surrender
  • Police Harass Family of Doan Bao Chau, Writer and Activist in Hiding, Over Government Criticism
  • U.S. and Vietnam Hold 28th Human Rights Dialogue in Hanoi
  • Climate Activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong Takes Refuge in U.S. After Release from Vietnamese Prison

Prominent Lawyer Tran Dinh Trien Jailed for Facebook Posts Criticizing Judiciary

A Hanoi court sentenced prominent former lawyer Tran Dinh Trien to three years in prison on Friday (Jan 10) for Facebook posts alleged to have undermined the state by criticizing a senior judge.

Trien, 65, a former deputy chair of the Hanoi Bar Association and head of the Vi Dan legal firm, was convicted of "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon state interests." The court claimed his posts contained "unauthenticated content" that damaged the reputation of the judiciary and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Arrested in June, Trien had his legal license suspended last week. His posts, published in April and May 2022, criticized restrictions on public access to trials, including barring family members and preventing journalists and lawyers from recording proceedings.

Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have condemned Vietnam's increasing crackdown on dissent, accusing the government of weaponizing the law to silence critics. Trien had previously defended activists and taken on sensitive cases, including land disputes.

Vietnam’s Public Security Ministry to Streamline Police Structure, Eliminate District-Level Units

Minister of Public Security Gen. Luong Tam Quang, has called for the expedited reorganization of the police apparatus to reduce intermediate levels and strengthen grassroots operations, aiming to enhance efficiency and maintain public order.

During a Jan. 7 conference reviewing the People’s Police organizational efforts in 2024 and outlining the 2025 program, Luong announced plans to eliminate district-level police organizations. However, domestic media outlets later revised or removed this detail. For instance, Tien Phong changed its headline from “No District-Level Police Organization” to a more general “Plan to Streamline the Apparatus.”

This restructuring follows years of downsizing. Since 2018, the Ministry of Public Security has reduced six directorates, 55 department-level units, 280 sub-department-level units, and over 1,200 military-level units, according to Maj. Gen. Pham Quang Tuyen.

Vietnam Urges Y Quynh Bdap’s Family to Persuade Him to Surrender Before Appeal Trial

On Jan. 10, 2025, RFA Vietnamese reports that Vietnamese authorities are pressuring the family of Y Quynh Bdap, an exiled ethnic Ede activist convicted of “terrorism” in absentia, to persuade him to surrender voluntarily instead of appealing his extradition from Thailand.

Bdap’s attorney, Nadthasiri Bergman, told RFA on Thursday that her team is preparing to submit an appeal against the Bangkok Criminal Court's September 2024 decision approving his extradition to Vietnam. She provided no further details.

On Dec. 25, an inter-agency delegation from Dak Lak Province visited the family of Bdap’s wife, delivering an official letter to the family. The content of this letter urged the family to “actively encourage Y Quynh Bdap to give himself up to receive leniency,” according to Bdap’s father, Y Phô Êban.

Bdap, a member of the Montagnard community—a predominantly Christian ethnic minority from Vietnam’s Central Highlands—fled to Thailand in 2018 to escape religious persecution. His grandfather had cooperated with U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, a legacy that has brought his family under government scrutiny.

Despite being granted refugee status by the UNHCR, Bdap was arrested by Thai police in mid-2024 after Vietnam accused him of directing attacks on two government offices in Dak Lak Province in June 2023, resulting in nine deaths. Bdap, who has denied the allegations, faces a 10-year prison sentence if extradited.

A human rights expert suggested that Vietnam’s efforts to pressure the Bdap’s family might be part of a staged “surrender show” to portray his return as voluntary. Critics say extraditing him to Vietnam risks exposing him to a justice system that is unfair and which has been widely condemned for suppressing dissent.

The Thai government did not act on the court’s ruling at the end of 2024, leaving Bdap’s fate hanging in the balance.

Vietnamese Writer and Karate Expert Doan Bao Chau Faces Police Harassment

On Dec. 30, Vietnamese writer and karate expert Doan Bao Chau, now in hiding, reported that the authorities are harassing his family in an attempt to locate him. Chau went into hiding in early 2024 after facing charges for his Facebook posts and interviews critical of the government. Despite being assured by the authorities that the situation was "not a problem," they continue to target his family.

Chau had been summoned by Vietnam's Security Investigation Agency in June 2024, where he was shown documents accusing him of spreading content that criticized the government and misled the public. After the meeting, he feared for his safety and fled. Authorities later raided his family’s homes and interrogated his wife, teachers, and friends for information about his whereabouts.

In December 2024, as the search intensified, Chau reposted the videos to assert his innocence. Chau is known for his loss in a 2017 karate competition to martial artist Pierre Francois Flores.

U.S. and Vietnam Address Human Rights and Governance in Hanoi Meeting

On January 6-7, the United States and Vietnam convened the 28th U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue in Hanoi, addressing key issues related to human rights and governance.

Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Dafna Rand led the U.S. delegation, accompanied by Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain and congressional staff, highlighting strong bipartisan support for advancing human rights in Vietnam. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Pham Hai Anh, director general for the International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The dialogue covered a broad spectrum of human rights concerns, including Vietnam’s implementation of recommendations from its UN Universal Periodic Review. The U.S. delegation urged Vietnam to protect freedom of expression, association, and religion, to enhance the rule of law, pursue legal reforms, and uphold the rights of marginalized groups. The United States also emphasized the need for an enabling environment for NGOs to support Vietnam’s development goals and called for the release of individuals unjustly detained.

Discussions extended beyond government-level talks, with the U.S. delegation meeting religious groups and non-governmental organizations to better understand the challenges on the ground.

The dialogue reinforced the shared commitment of both nations to deepen cooperation as part of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides acknowledged the importance of continuing frank, constructive, and results-oriented discussions to promote and protect human rights, which is a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy.

Vietnamese Climate Activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong Seeks Asylum in the U.S. After Early Release from Prison

Hoang Thi Minh Hong, a prominent Vietnamese climate activist, has safely arrived in the United States. She was released early from prison in September and is seeking political asylum. Hong was imprisoned in 2023 on charges of “tax evasion,” a widely criticized accusation that many view as politically motivated due to her environmental activism.

Hong’s release came as part of a presidential pardon granted one day before Vietnam's then-President To Lam travelled to the U.S. to address the United Nations General Assembly. Hong expressed her gratitude on social media, attributing her release to extensive global advocacy efforts. She thanked the U.S. government, 15 other nations, numerous organizations, and thousands of supporters worldwide who campaigned for her freedom.

Upon her arrival at Dulles International Airport on Dec. 24, 2024, Hong, accompanied by her husband and son, confirmed her intention to seek asylum. "I want to continue my environmental and climate work, but it’s increasingly difficult to do so safely in Vietnam," she said. "I chose to move to the U.S. for a safer environment, with more opportunities and support."

Hong, the first Vietnamese person to visit Antarctica at the age of 24, has been a key figure in the country's climate movement. She founded the non-profit CHANGE VN, which worked to raise public awareness about climate change in Vietnam. However, she shut down the organization in 2023 following the arrests of several environmental activists.

In 2023, Hong was accused of failing to pay $274,000 in taxes, for which she was fined $4,000. Despite the government charges against her, Hong’s supporters maintain the charges were politically motivated. Her family reportedly paid the amount demanded by the court upon her release.

Hong’s case received widespread international attention, with nearly 10,000 people from 55 countries signing petitions and advocating for her release. Her case followed the earlier release of Vietnamese blogger Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, who was freed on the same day as part of Vietnam's political gesture to the United States. Despite his release, Thuc refused a pardon, maintaining his innocence regarding charges of attempting to overthrow the government. However, Vietnam forcibly released him from prison in September 2024.

Now in the U.S., Hong intends to continue her environmental work, emphasizing the importance of a supportive and secure environment for environmental activism.

Quick Takes:

Former members of the National Assembly face sentencing of up to 15.5 years in prison:

On Jan. 8, 2025, the People’s Prosecutorial Office of Thai Binh Province recommended the court sentence Luu Binh Nhuong and Le Thanh Van, former members of Vietnam’s National Assembly, to prison. Luu Binh Nhuong was charged with “forcible seizure of property” and “taking advantage of office or power to influence others to profit”, and the sentence for him was 13 to 15.5 years in prison. At the same time, it recommended seven to nine years in prison for “using office and power to influence others for profit” against Luu Thanh Van.

Decree 168/2024 Increases Fines for Traffic Violations, Sparking Traffic Jams in Vietnam:

Since the implementation of Decree 168/2024/ND-CP on January 1, 2025, traffic violation penalties in Vietnam have significantly increased, with fines for running a red light rising to 18-20 million dong for car drivers and 4-6 million dong for motorcyclists. In Ho Chi Minh City, local media has reported severe traffic jams, partly attributed to the new decree. Drivers, fearing the increased penalties, are slowing down and avoiding right turns at red lights, which causes congestion. 

Authorities are responding by installing additional signal lights and arrows for right turns. Additionally, Decree 176, also effective from Jan. 1, introduces monetary rewards for individuals or organizations reporting traffic violations, though specific guidelines for implementation are still pending.

Vietnam Insight: Learn more about Vietnam

Vietnam’s Just Energy Transition: Whose Justice?

The Diplomat/ Huong Thien/ Jan. 6

“Vietnam, a current member of the Human Rights Council, ranks below average on citizens’ safety from the state (which includes the right to freedom from arbitrary arrest, torture and ill-treatment, forced disappearance, execution, or extrajudicial killing), according to Human Rights Measurement Index, which tracks countries’ human rights performance across the globe​. 

Ironically, the country’s human rights record went downhill after Vietnam became a member of the Human Rights Council for the second time for the 2023-2025 term. To Guneet Kaur –  the Environmental Defender Campaign Coordinator for International Rivers, a nonprofit, nongovernmental human rights organization headquartered in California – [said] the recent spate of persecution against environmental defenders, climate leaders, and energy experts in Vietnam reflects a crackdown on transparency, accountability, and public participation in the process of the Just Energy Transition Partnership. 

"Instead of using the JETP as an opportunity for building a participatory, collaborative framework for fighting the climate crisis, donor governments and institutional stakeholders in the JETP are enabling serious human rights harms by the Vietnam government,’ said Kaur.”