Vietnam’s Press Law Reform: The Rise of Media Conglomerates

Huỳnh Kha and Hiếu Mạnh wrote this article in Vietnamese, which was published in Luat Khoa Magazine on February 24, 2025. Thúc Kháng translated it into English for The Vietnamese Magazine.

The 2016 Press Law amendment institutionalizes the Communist Party of Vietnam’s policies and directives by maintaining that media outlets should continue to serve as propaganda tools for the Party and the state. However, a new concept has emerged in the draft law.

Amended 2016 Press Law: Do Not Abuse the Right to Freedom of Speech

On Feb. 10, the government of Vietnam published on its official website the full draft of the amended Press Law. The Ministry of Information and Communications (“MIC”) — the agency responsible for drafting this revision — has sought public feedback on the proposal. 

Currently, the MIC has been merged into the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), while the responsibility for press management has been transferred to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. 

According to the MIC, the amendment is necessary because several provisions of the 2016 Press Law have revealed limitations and inadequacies and failed to meet practical demands. 

The revised 2016 Press Law will be amended and supplemented based on five main principles:

1. The press will continue to serve as the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the state.
2. Regulations will address issues related to freedom of speech and press freedom while establishing mechanisms to prevent the abuse of these rights to infringe on the state's interests.
3. The amendments must align with the directive to “modernize legal thinking,” as instructed by the General Secretary of the Communist Party, the Chairman of the National Assembly, and the Prime Minister — ensuring a balance between state management and fostering creativity. 
4. The law must support the development of the media sector in line with technological trends and Vietnam’s political, economic, and social conditions. 
5. The clear decentralization of state oversight in the media.

The draft amendment consists of five chapters and 53 articles (one chapter and eight articles fewer compared to the 2016 Press Law).

Following a specialized legislative session on Dec. 11, 2024, the government reviewed and decided to submit the draft to the National Assembly. This draft is expected to be presented at the ninth session of the National Assembly in May 2025 and approved during the tenth session in October 2025.

Key Highlights of the Draft Amendment to the Press Law

Revising Concepts Related to Online Journalism

According to the draft, content channels operated by press agencies on online platforms will be officially recognized as journalistic information products. Social networks, media conglomerates, and state-run multimedia agencies are now included under the law’s regulatory framework.

The draft also redefines the role of aggregated news websites, restricting them to providing only information published by licensed press agencies or official websites of party organizations and state agencies, in accordance with press and intellectual property laws. 

New Regulations on the ‘Media Conglomerate’ Model

For the first time, the draft amendment to the 2016 Press Law introduces the concept of a “media conglomerate,” appearing in Clause 16, Article 3. 

According to the draft, a media conglomerate is a press agency overseeing multiple affiliated media outlets and enterprises. 

Clause 5, Article 14 stipulates that media organizations operating under this model will follow a financial and salary structure similar to that of enterprises and be allowed to invest in businesses. Currently, the state regulates salaries for workers in press agencies, based on the official base salary system.

A recent report from the Central Propaganda Department of the Communist Party included plans to pilot the media conglomerate model in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City following a nationwide restructuring of state institutions. 

In its review of the implementation of the 2016 Press Law, the MIC highlighted that this model has been adopted in several countries, particularly China. Given the “similarities” in political, economic, and social systems between China and Vietnam, the MIC considers China’s state-run media conglomerates a “valuable reference” for Vietnam’s development.

Previously, under Decision No.531/QD issued on April 4, 2021, the MIC outlined plans to amend and supplement the 2016 Press Law by 2025 and pilot the “press-media center” or “media conglomerate” model. 

Cyber Surveillance in the Draft Press Law Amendment

Another new aspect of the draft amendment to the Press Law is the introduction of regulations on monitoring media activities in the online space and investments in tools to facilitate these changes.

Specifically, Article 30 mandates that press agencies' online activities must comply with laws regarding journalism and cybersecurity. 

The state will invest in “digital tools” to monitor and manage media content in the online space. 

Narrowing the Scope of Journalist Card Eligibility

A notable change in the draft amendment is the tightening of eligibility criteria for issuing journalist cards. 

Only reporters and editors working for press agencies will be considered for journalist cards. The validity of these cards will be five years from the date of issuance. 

However, individuals working for scientific journals will no longer be eligible to receive these cards (Clause 1, Article 29 of the draft).

The MIC explained that as of 2023, a total of 318 scientific journals had been granted operational licenses, and nearly 21,000 journalist cards (valid for the 2021-2025 period) had been issued, with 20% of them granted to individuals working for scientific journals. 

However, some of these journals have deviated from their original missions and purposes, operating with little or no scientific focus. The MIC also argued that scientific journals rarely engage in journalistic fieldwork, as their primary function is to publish and disseminate research-related content.  

Revocation of Press Licenses: Minimum 3-year Suspension

The draft amendment introduces two new prohibited actions in the field of journalism: 

1. Individuals and organizations that are not press agencies are prohibited from publishing or broadcasting news content. 
2. Publishing information that negatively impacts Vietnam’s reputation or harms the country’s international relations is also prohibited. 

The draft stipulates that press agencies must obtain a license from the state management bodies to operate. If a press agency’s license is revoked, it must cease operations for at least three years. Previously, there was no minimum suspension period, and the agency could request a license renewal through the governing body. 

According to the MIC, previously, some press agencies that had their licenses revoked continued to exist as legal entities, which led to cases of exploring their legal status and using official stamps for other activities. The new regulations aim to ensure that the cessation of operation is enforced when a press agency’s license is revoked. 

A Powerful Tool for Propaganda for the Party and the State

After 36 years (from the 1989 Press Law to the present), the press is still regarded as a tool and weapon in the fight to protect the ideology and policies of the Communist Party. 

This role is reaffirmed in Article 3 of the draft; Vietnam only allows the operation of “revolutionary journalism.”

The press's mission is to “provide truthful information about the situation in the country and the world, in line with the interests of the nation and the people; to promote, disseminate, and contribute to building and protecting the party’s policies and directives.”

Earlier press missions have been omitted, such as expanding mutual understanding between nations and contributing to the global people’s cause.

The Second "Surgical Reshaping" of the Press

The state-run press has just undergone its second major "surgical reshaping" as part of a plan to streamline its organizational structure.

Before the 2025 Lunar New Year, the government terminated the operations of major television stations such as VTC Digital Television, Voice of Vietnam Television (VOV), People's Television, National Assembly Television, and Vietnam News Agency Television, transferring their functions and responsibilities to Vietnam Television (VTV). However, VTV has not yet provided specific details on how it plans to handle the staff working at these channels following the merger.

During a government meeting on Feb. 7, Nguyen Thanh Lam, VTV's General Director, reported that after the reorganization, VTV's structure would be reduced from 27 units to 22, ensuring a streamlined system with a reduction rate of 18.5%.

Which Agency Will Continue Drafting the Press Law Amendment?

The MIC has been merged with the MST.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) has been given responsibility for press management.

Therefore, the draft amendment is likely to be continued by the MCST, which will refine it further and submit it to the government for approval.