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Key Events Revised Press Law: media outlets required to provide sources of information to the police; Authorities continue to invoke Articles 116 and 117 of the Penal Code to suppress religious freedom and free expression; The Communist Party rushes to finalize personnel arrangements ahead of the 14th National Congress; North Korea and Vietnam Announce Expanded Cooperation, Including Defense Ties; Floods, dike breaches, and a hydroelectric dam collapse forced mass evacuations as Typhoon No. 11 struck Vietnam; Revised Press Law Will Compel Journalists to Reveal Sources to Police On the afternoon of Oct. 8, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee convened its 50th session at the National Assembly House—its final meeting in preparation for the upcoming 10th sitting of the 15th National Assembly.

The session focused on reviewing and giving feedback on 21 draft laws, including the amended Press Law, as well as laws on Population, Disease Prevention, Pricing, Statistics, Insurance Business, Anti-Corruption, and National Defense and Security Industries, among other significant legislative proposals.

The proposed amendment to the Press Law centers on four major policy areas: strengthening state management of journalism activities; improving the qualifications of journalists and media leadership; promoting the economic development of the press sector; and regulating online journalism.

A notable change in the draft allows media agencies to partner with external organizations to produce content, except for politically sensitive areas such as current affairs, national security, defense, and foreign relations.

The draft also seeks to broaden the revenue streams of media organizations, enabling them to sell copyrights to their journalistic works, license content use, engage in commercial partnerships, provide public services assigned by state agencies, and publish academic research to enhance professional standards.

However, the most controversial clause introduces a provision empowering the chief investigators of the Ministry of Public Security and provincial police to request that news organizations or journalists disclose the identities of their information sources for use in criminal investigations, prosecutions, or trials.

This new rule, if enacted, could have a chilling effect on press freedom and journalistic independence, as it challenges the long-held principle of source protection that underpins investigative reporting.

The amended Press Law is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for deliberation and approval during its 10th session.

Currently, Vietnam ranks 173 out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The country is also listed among the world’s top jailers of journalists and writers, according to RSF, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and PEN America.

Authorities Continue to Invoke Articles 116 and 117 to Target Religious Practitioners and Free Expression On Oct. 8, the Security Investigation Agency of the Đắk Lắk Provincial Police detained Y Nuen Ayŭn and Huỳnh Ngọc Tuấn on allegations tied to their religious activities and online expression deemed “anti-state.” The arrests have drawn public attention as the Vietnamese government continues to tighten control over independent religious practices and free speech.

According to the provincial police, Y Nuen Ayŭn, 58, who resides in Buôn Puăn B, Ea Phê Commune, Đắk Lắk Province, was charged under Article 116 of the 2015 Penal Code for “undermining the policy of national unity” for his involvement in the religious organization Evangelical Church of Christ in the Central Highlands. Authorities claim he joined the group in 2019 and was elected as its “executive committee chairman” in 2021.

Investigators accused Ayŭn of spreading false information about religious practices in the Central Highlands and defaming local authorities by alleging that they harassed and arrested members of his church. The Evangelical Church of Christ is one of several independent Protestant groups in Vietnam that have been repeatedly targeted by police for operating outside state-sanctioned religious institutions.

On the same day, police also arrested Huỳnh Ngọc Tuấn, 62, a residdent of Buôn Hồ Town, under Article 117 of the Penal Code “making, storing, disseminating or propagandizing information, materials, and items against the State”. The authorities accuse Tuấn of repeatedly sharing articles and videos online that “distorted and slandered” the government.

Articles 116 and 117 of Vietnam’s Penal Code are frequently used by the authorities to criminalize peaceful expression and independent religious activity, drawing consistent criticism from international human rights groups.

Rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists have condemned these provisions for violating Vietnam’s obligations under international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees freedom of religion, belief, and expression.

These latest arrests underscore an ongoing pattern of repression in which the Vietnamese government uses vague and broad legal provisions to silence dissent and suppress independent voices—whether in religious communities, civil society, or online platforms.

Communist Party of Vietnam Accelerates Personnel Preparations for 14th National Congress On the morning of Oct. 6, the 13th Plenum of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam convened in Hanoi. This key meeting focused on personnel arrangements and the drafting of documents to be presented at the upcoming 14th National Congress of the Communist Party—an event expected to determine the next generation of national leadership.

During the session, the Central Committee appointed four new members to the 13th Central Inspection Commission, the party’s top disciplinary body. The new appointees include:

Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, deputy secretary of the Hưng Yên Provincial Party Committee and chairman of the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front; Major General Trần Văn Phúc, member of the Standing Committee of the Quảng Ninh Provincial Party Committee and director of Quảng Ninh Provincial Police; Trịnh Thế Bình, head of a department and Secretary to the Politburo member of the Secretariat Standing Committee; and Trần Quốc Bình, director of the Department of Area III under the Party Central Inspection Commission. At the same meeting, the Committee approved the resignation of Lê Quang Huy from his position as a Central Committee member for the 13th term, citing personal reasons.

A significant disciplinary action was also announced: the Committee expelled Đỗ Trọng Hưng—Central Committee member, former deputy head of the Party Central Organization Commission, and former secretary of the Thanh Hóa Provincial Party Committee—from all party positions for violations of party regulations and state law. This follows a series of disciplinary cases involving multiple officials from Thanh Hóa Province in recent months.

In addition to personnel restructuring, the Central Committee also discussed nominations for senior state positions to be presented by the Politburo to the 15th National Assembly for election.

These include key roles such as the secretary-general of the National Assembly, chair of the Office of the National Assembly, chair of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, and chair of the Committee for Deputies’ Affairs.

The meeting also approved nominations for several government posts, including deputy prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, and minister of home affairs.

This plenum marks a crucial step in the Communist Party’s preparations for the 14th National Congress, where leadership transitions and major policy directions for the next five years will be decided, signaling the beginning of an intensified phase of political maneuvering ahead of 2026.

Việt Nam and North Korea Agree to Deepen Bilateral Relations, Including Defense Collaboration North Korea and Việt Nam have agreed to broaden cooperation in several sectors—including defense—during a high-level visit, according to state media.

The agreement, disclosed by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Oct. 11, detailed plans to collaborate through their defense, foreign affairs, and health ministries. However, KCNA did not specify the exact terms or areas of new cooperation.

The announcement coincided with a rare visit by Tô Lâm, ceneral secretary of Việt Nam’s Communist Party, to Pyongyang. Lâm attended ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, making him the first Vietnamese leader to visit North Korea in nearly two decades.

The timing and content of the accord raise questions about the implications for regional security and diplomatic relationship, especially as both nations maintain complex relationships with China, the United States, and other neighbors. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether this signals a deepening strategic alignment or more symbolic overtures.

As of now, the public record remains sparse on how robust or binding the new defense commitments will be. The lack of detail from official statements suggests much remains to be defined behind closed doors.

The agreement enhances Việt Nam’s diplomatic profile—particularly its willingness to engage with one of the world’s most isolated states—and may mark a pivot toward more diversified foreign relations amid evolving regional dynamics.

Typhoon Matmo (Storm No. 11) Triggers Widespread Floods, Dike Breaches, and Dam Collapses—Thousands Evacuated Amid Official Silence On the night of Oct. 6, the aftermath of Typhoon No. 11 (Matmo), combined with strong upper-level wind convergence, caused torrential rains across northern Vietnam. Within hours, large areas of Thái Nguyên City and surrounding districts—Võ Nhai, Phú Lương, Đồng Hỷ, and Đại Từ—were submerged under floodwaters, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate urgently.

By Oct. 7, social media was flooded with calls for help from stranded residents in Thái Nguyên, reporting a lack of food, clean water, and emergency supplies.

In Cao Bằng Province, severe flash floods destroyed two suspension bridges in Tân Giang Ward and paralyzed multiple transport routes. According to Đàm Quang Tuyến, vice chairman of the Thái Nguyên Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front, water levels rose faster than any previous record, leaving entire areas isolated and inaccessible to rescue teams.

In the early hours of Oct. 8, several dike sections in Tiên Lục (Bắc Ninh) were overtopped, submerging residential neighborhoods. Some portions of the Thương River dike in the former Yên Thế District also experienced overflow, sparking rumors of a full breach—claims that local authorities later denied.

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of Oct. 7, a section of the Bắc Khê 1 Hydropower Plant dam in Lạng Sơn collapsed by about one meter due to mounting water pressure. Local authorities have warned that continued heavy rainfall in the coming days could cause secondary flooding, landslides, and further dam failures, posing escalating risks to downstream communities.

Field observations by Luật Khoa Magazine reveal a notable absence of public statements or appearances by the Communist Party or government officials, even as widespread flooding and destruction unfolded. State-controlled media provided minimal coverage of professional rescue operations or the deployment of modern emergency equipment.

In contrast, much of the relief effort has been organized spontaneously by local residents themselves, who have been coordinating rescues, providing food, and mobilizing community support through online networks amid worsening conditions.

With rains expected to persist and infrastructure damage mounting, questions are growing over disaster preparedness, government response capacity, and transparency in crisis communication—issues that have repeatedly surfaced in Vietnam’s handling of natural disasters in recent years.

Quick Takes: Trịnh Bá Phương’s Wife Says Her Husband Will Appeal On Oct. 10, 2025, Đỗ Thị Thu, the wife of imprisoned Vietnamese activist Trinh Ba Phuong, confirmed on social media that she was allowed a short 10-minute visit with her husband, during which he said he would file an appeal. Thu said Phương’s spirit remains strong, though he has lost significant weight. Now Phương weighs around 57–58 kg and appears frailer than ever. The meeting took place under heavy police surveillance, limiting their conversation. Thu expressed gratitude to the activist community, human rights groups, and diplomats who have supported her family, calling for continued solidarity as they face ongoing hardship.

21 International Organizations Call for the Immediate Release of Journalist Pham Doan Trang Twenty-one international organizations have jointly urged governments worldwide to pressure the Vietnamese authorities to unconditionally release journalist Pham Doan Trang, marking five years since her imprisonment. The groups condemned the ongoing repression against Đoan Trang, a leading voice for press freedom and human rights in Vietnam. Over her career, she has received numerous international honors, including the RSF Press Freedom Prize (2019), CPJ International Press Freedom Award (2022), PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award (2024), Tucholsky Prize (2025), and the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award (2022).

Over 1.6 Million Young Vietnamese Unemployed in Third Quarter of 2025 Vietnam’s General Statistics Office reported that in the third quarter of 2025, more than 1.6 million young people aged 15–24 were neither employed nor enrolled in education or training, accounting for 11.5% of the nation’s youth population.

The figure represents an increase of 222,000 from the previous quarter and 183,000 compared to the same period in 2024. Officials warned that the youth unemployment rate remains high, underscoring persistent difficulties in job creation—particularly for recent graduates struggling to transition into the labor market amid economic uncertainty and limited skilled employment opportunities.

Việt Nam Insight: Learn more about Việt Nam Is Vietnam Turning Against LGBTQ+ Rights? DW/David Hutt/Oct. 7

“Until recently, the LGBTQ+ movement appeared to enjoy what some observers described as an ‘exempt status’ from the Communist Party's crackdown on civil society.

‘LGBTQ activists didn't challenge the ruling party's political control,’ Phil Robertson, the director of Asia Human Rights and Labor Advocates, told DW.

‘It was convenient for Hanoi to be able to point to the LGBTQ rights issue when they needed to push back against the human rights criticism from trading partners in the EU ,’ he added.

That changed, analysts say, after former public security chief To Lam became general secretary of the Communist Party in the wake of his predecessor's death last year.

Since then, To Lam has launched a ‘concerted campaign to wipe out civil society reformers. There are no exceptions,’ said Robertson.”

Việt Nam Revised Press Law Raises Alarm as Journalists May Be Forced to Reveal Sources to Police

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