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Key Events

EU–Việt Nam Relations Reach New High With Comprehensive Strategic Partnership;

Việt Nam to Require Mandatory Identity Verification for Social Media Users;

Fatherland Front Reinforces Ideological Role of Press in Việt Nam;

New Draft Law Clarifies How Citizen Scores May Be Shared Across State Bodies;

Việt Nam Explores Using DNA Biometrics for Nationwide Identity System.

EU–Việt Nam Strategic Upgrade Marks Expansion From Trade to Security Cooperation

Việt Nam and the European Union have officially elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, marking the highest level of diplomatic ties in Việt Nam’s foreign relations framework.

The upgrade was announced on Jan. 29, 2026, during an official visit to Hà Nội by António Costa, president of the European Council, at the invitation of Lương Cường, Việt Nam’s president.

The move reflects a shared intent to deepen cooperation across political, economic, technological, and security spheres amidst growing global uncertainty.

According to the joint statement released after the talks, the new partnership builds on decades of EU–Việt Nam engagement and seeks to consolidate cooperation in trade, investment, and strategic industries.

Existing frameworks such as the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement and the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement are expected to remain the backbone of economic ties, while the partnership provides a higher-level political umbrella for expanded collaboration in areas such as green transition, digital transformation, critical raw materials, and high technology.

One of the most notable elements of the upgraded relationship is the reference to defense and security cooperation. The joint statement indicates that the EU is willing to explore cooperation with Việt Nam in defense-related research and development, including the potential transfer of certain defense technologies.

However, the language used is cautious, emphasizing that any transfer would focus on non-sensitive technologies and be carried out only “when appropriate.” This signals an incremental approach rather than a sweeping shift, consistent with both the EU’s regulatory framework on arms exports and Việt Nam’s long-standing defense policy of diversification and non-alignment.

Beyond defense technology, both sides reaffirmed commitments to regional and global security issues. The EU and Việt Nam expressed support for a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace in Ukraine, underscoring respect for international law and the United Nations Charter.

They also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, an area of particular strategic concern for Hà Nội. These positions align Việt Nam more visibly with the EU’s emphasis on a rules-based international order, even as Việt Nam continues to balance relations with multiple major powers.

Economically, the partnership upgrade is expected to reinforce Việt Nam’s role as one of the EU’s most important partners in Southeast Asia. Bilateral trade has grown steadily in recent years, and both sides now aim to deepen supply-chain cooperation, encourage European investment, and promote technology transfer in sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable mining, and semiconductor-related industries.

For Việt Nam, this aligns with broader development goals of moving up the value chain and reducing dependence on low-cost manufacturing.

The elevation of ties also carries symbolic weight. With this step, the EU joins a small group of countries and blocs that hold Comprehensive Strategic Partnership status with Việt Nam, alongside the United States, China, and Russia.

For Hà Nội, it reinforces a foreign policy strategy centered on multilateralization and diversification. For the EU, it signals a stronger strategic presence in the Indo-Pacific region and a long-term commitment to engagement with Việt Nam as a key regional actor.

Overall, the EU–Việt Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership represents a significant diplomatic milestone, combining economic ambition with cautious but meaningful steps toward deeper security and technological cooperation.

Mandatory Identity Verification Marks New Phase in Việt Nam’s Online Governance

Việt Nam’s ruling Communist Party has issued a new directive mandating identity verification for all social media users as part of a sweeping effort to strengthen cybersecurity, protect data, and reduce anonymous activity online.

The Standing Committee of the Party Central Committee, led by Trần Cẩm Tú, issued Directive No. 57 requiring a system of national digital identity verification that will link users’ real identities with their online accounts and telecommunications identifiers.

Under the directive, social media platforms and other internet services must implement mechanisms ensuring that users are authenticated before they can post content, comment, livestream, or share information.

This identity verification is expected to be done through mobile phone numbers or personal identification codes, effectively curbing the prevalence of anonymous or “fake” accounts.

The party leadership says the measure is necessary to respond to increasingly complex threats in cyberspace, including misinformation, cybercrime, and unauthorized data access.

According to the directive, it should be accompanied by a nationwide system for digital identity management that also covers telecommunications subscribers, domain names, and internet protocol (IP) addresses.

It calls for eliminating “SIM rác” (prepaid SIM cards used without proper identity registration) and anonymous accounts, which authorities describe as tools for fraud and other illicit activities online.

The text of the directive stresses the strategic importance of moving from passive defense toward a more proactive and comprehensive cybersecurity posture. Authorities have been urged to detect and address risks early, with an emphasis on protecting national interests and public safety.

The directive places the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and other state agencies in central roles for implementing identity authentication requirements and overseeing compliance.

Domestic media coverage highlights that one explicit goal of mandatory identity verification is to protect children and young people in the digital environment by enforcing age controls and deterring harmful, unidentified online behavior. Government reports also frame the requirement as part of broader efforts to build a safer and more orderly internet ecosystem in Việt Nam.

The policy aligns with earlier regulations, including Government Decree 147/2024, which already requires platforms to authenticate social media accounts using Vietnamese mobile numbers within 90 days of the decree’s enforcement.

Accounts that the owners fail to verify are barred from publishing content online. Directive No. 57 consolidates and extends this approach by linking online identities more tightly to national identity frameworks and internet infrastructure.

Supporters of the policy argue that eliminating anonymity will foster a more responsible online culture and reduce harassment, defamation, and other online harms. They suggest clearer identification could also raise user accountability and elevate the quality of discourse on digital platforms.

However, critics and digital rights advocates are concerned about the implications for privacy and freedom of expression. Mandatory identity verification could expose users to heightened surveillance, data misuse, and state control over speech, they warn.

Similar debates have arisen in other countries considering compulsory ID checks online, where experts have cautioned that mass collection of personal data may create vulnerabilities to identity theft and profiling, even as it enables law enforcement access to user behaviors.

Directive No. 57 represents a significant shift in how online identity and user control are managed in Việt Nam’s cyberspace. Its implementation will be closely watched by civil society, digital rights groups, and international observers as the country moves toward more stringent regulation of the digital ecosystem.

Việt Nam Fatherland Front Says Press Must Produce ‘Guiding’ News Coverage

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (Mặt trận Tổ quốc Việt Nam) has emphasized that press organizations should produce news with a “guiding” character as part of their core propaganda work this year, placing the media’s role firmly within ideological leadership and public direction.

Senior officials at the Front say that the media's “guiding role” includes spreading good news, showing good behavior, and making sure that reporting supports shared values and approved policy directions.

The statement was issued as the Front’s leadership outlined key tasks and priorities for 2026 following meetings with press representatives and political leaders.

At the heart of the Front’s directive is the assertion that news reporting should do more than simply relay events—it should shape public perception and unify opinion in line with state and party objectives.

Officials framed this approach as essential to strengthening social cohesion, combating misinformation, and promoting national development goals. This reflects long-standing expectations that the press serve as an instrument of political education and social mobilization.

This approach also encompasses coverage of major national events and initiatives, such as the implementation of state programs and socio-political campaigns, where the press is expected to present narratives that support and legitimize leadership priorities.

In practice, the emphasis on “guiding” coverage means that press outlets—particularly those affiliated with the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations—are tasked with aligning their reporting with official lines. This includes communicating party and state policies and resolutions clearly and persuasively, while framing current affairs in ways that reinforce national unity and public confidence.

The directive aligns with broader trends in Vietnam's media landscape, where political oversight and control mechanisms largely constrain press freedom, despite its constitutional recognition.

Under the country’s legal framework, journalism is expected to support the Communist Party of Việt Nam and contribute to social stability, while state institutions regularly assess and guide news content to ensure compliance with ideological priorities. This system persistently influences the framing and dissemination of topics of public interest.

Officials highlighted the necessity of countering distorted or divisive information and preventing behaviors they deem detrimental to national solidarity. In this context, the media’s role as a “guide” in public discourse is seen not only as a professional responsibility but also as a political imperative to maintain social order and promote development agendas.

The Front also called on press agencies to innovate how they engage audiences, including through new technologies and digital platforms, while ensuring that such efforts remain consistent with official narratives. The signal likely aims to cater to the evolving media consumption habits of younger and digitally savvy segments of the population.

Experts and observers note that positioning the media as a guiding force aligns with existing norms in Việt Nam, where journalism is state-linked and press organizations are largely integrated into formal political structures.

The emphasis on guiding coverage underscores the continuing role of media as a partner in governance and social mobilization rather than as an independent watchdog.

As the Fatherland Front implements its 2026 work plan, how this directive influences editorial practices and public discourse remains a key question. Press associations and media professionals will be watching closely as outlets adjust to the expectation that news coverage not only informs but also directs public understanding in support of national agendas.

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Quietly Seeks Public Feedback on Revised Citizen Ranking Resolution

The MPS is once again soliciting public comments on a draft resolution proposing a nationwide system to score and rank citizens based on their participation in digital environments, but the consultation process has unfolded with little public visibility.

The second draft of the so-called “digital citizen ranking” resolution has been available for feedback on the ministry’s website from Jan. 13 to Feb. 1, 2026, yet coverage by state media has been virtually nonexistent.

The draft under review would continue to classify citizens into three tiers— “not yet reached basic participation,” “basic participation,” and “active participation”—based on their engagement with state digital services, particularly through the government’s VNeID platform. This approach mirrors an earlier version of the proposal that was publicly consulted on in December 2025 but which has since been amended with additional provisions.

Among the changes in the second draft are two new clauses in Article 6, Section 2. One would explicitly allow state agencies, political organizations, and socio-political bodies to connect to and use citizens’ digital scores in line with their functions that the government defines. The other would permit “other organizations” to access the scores when authorized by the individuals concerned. Both additions expand the potential scope of who could use the scoring data.

The ministry also emphasizes that the VNeID application—currently used for electronic identification and authentication—would be scaled up and operated to meet heavy-traffic demands from the public. Documents accompanying the draft indicate that VNeID could remain central to collecting the data on which citizen scores are based, potentially reinforcing the platform’s role in everyday public service and administrative interactions.

Despite these developments, transparency around the consultation process remains limited. Luật Khoa Magazine has found that key documents, such as the full text of the draft resolution and the ministry’s responses to earlier public comments, were temporarily inaccessible on the ministry’s website during the feedback period. In contrast to December’s first consultation phase, when the initial draft was at least downloadable, the current vacuum has prompted questions about how openly the ministry is managing public input.

The proposed ranking system is part of Project 06, a broader government initiative approved in 2022 to expand the use of population data, digital identification, and electronic authentication as part of Việt Nam’s digital transformation strategy through 2030. Under that framework, the draft resolution would establish the digital citizen score as a nationwide mechanism linked to citizen engagement online.

The MPS is consulting on the draft under the authority of National Assembly Resolution 206/2025/QH15, which allows the government to issue resolutions to address legal gaps while awaiting formal amendments to existing laws. The 2025 legal framework effectively elevates government resolutions to normative status, giving them broader regulatory weight. The government is using this mechanism to advance the citizen scoring policy, bypassing the typically lengthy legislative process for laws.

Public reaction to the idea of scoring and ranking citizens has been mixed, with some civil society commentators warning that such systems could entrench inequality or be misused to influence behavior and access to services. Officials have insisted the system is intended to “encourage participation” in the digital environment rather than to discriminate against individuals.

As the consultation window closes on Feb. 1, civil society groups, legal experts and ordinary citizens will be watching to see how the ministry incorporates feedback before it submits a final draft for government approval and implementation.

Việt Nam Explores DNA as Part of National Digital Identity System

The MPS is preparing a draft national technical standard that would allow the use of DNA to identify individuals as part of a broader push to develop biometric-based identification systems in Việt Nam.

The initiative, outlined in a newly circulated draft standard on DNA-based individual recognition, would pave the way for a national DNA database under state control with significant implications for public security, privacy, and data governance.

According to the draft proposal published by the ministry’s Department of Administrative Management of Social Order (CO6), the standard would outline how to collect, analyze, and manage DNA samples to create records that identify individuals.

The document envisions a centralized system in which all DNA identification data from across society would be collected, analyzed, and stored under the supervision of the MPS.

Under the plan, biological samples such as blood, hair, tissue, or cheek swabs would be processed using short tandem repeat (STR) analysis—a widely accepted forensic technique that creates individual DNA profiles. The analysis would be carried out by capillary electrophoresis technology, the draft says, aiming to standardize methods across accredited laboratories and integrate results into a national database.

In addition to traditional laboratory workflows, the draft also references “rapid DNA” technologies, which can automatically generate a DNA profile from a sample without extensive human involvement. Proponents say this could expedite identification in certain contexts, but some independent experts have raised concerns about the potential for misuse and insufficient safeguards.

Crucially, the draft standard includes provisions allowing the DNA data to be shared with other specialized units within the MPS “when there are practical requirements.” This wording suggests that the DNA identification system could be used beyond civil identification—potentially supporting criminal investigations and other law-enforcement activities.

The new proposal comes amid a broader trend toward expanding biometric information in Việt Nam’s identity infrastructure. Recently, the government has moved to incorporate biometric identifiers such as iris scans, voice samples, and DNA elements into its national citizen identification framework under the amended Law on Citizen Identification, which came into effect in 2024.

Under that law, the MPS has been tasked with collecting and integrating biometric data into a unified national database as part of the government’s digital transformation strategy.

The draft standard’s publication is also part of a wider set of technical documents and consultations the ministry has initiated to support DNA and biometric applications. Separate drafts govern technical requirements for forensic DNA analysis in laboratories, specifying quality controls and infrastructure conditions intended to ensure accuracy and consistency nationwide.

The move has prompted early debate among legal experts and civil liberties observers about privacy, consent, and oversight. Rapid DNA technologies, in particular, have drawn scrutiny in international academic discussions for their potential to enable widespread surveillance if used without robust legal and ethical frameworks. Critics argue that centralizing genetic data requires clear safeguards to prevent abuse and protect individual rights.

Supporters of the policy point to practical benefits in law enforcement and civil administration. DNA identification is already used in targeted contexts, such as identifying the remains of missing persons or military casualties, with officials saying it can bring closure to families and contribute to public safety.

As the draft standard is circulated for public and stakeholder feedback, questions remain about how broadly DNA biometric identification would be applied, what legal protections will be in place, and how the balance between state security and individual privacy will be managed in Việt Nam’s expanding biometric ecosystem.

Quick Takes:

Former Legislature Lays Out Law Agenda for Next National Assembly

Trần Thanh Mẫn, chairman of the National Assembly, said the outgoing 15th National Assembly has formulated and submitted the draft legislative program for the incoming 16th legislature to the Communist Party’s Central Committee for approval. The announcement came during a meeting on January 28 in Hà Nội, where he reviewed the 15th Assembly’s achievements and outlined priorities for 2026, including implementing key Party resolutions and coordinating with government bodies on lawmaking plans. The early drafting of the next legislature’s legal agenda reflects efforts to ensure continuity and advance priority legislation.

Vietnamese Police Seek Stronger Extradition Cooperation With Canada

The MPS has urged Canada to step up cooperation on security and legal matters to support extradition and transfer of sentenced persons back to Việt Nam. During a meeting with Canada’s ambassador in Hà Nội on Jan. 28, Lê Quốc Hùng, deputy minister of public security, proposed strengthening high-level dialogue on law enforcement, negotiating bilateral agreements on criminal justice cooperation, and creating legal frameworks that would ease the extradition of convicted individuals, as well as mutual legal assistance between the two countries. The ministry said enhanced cooperation would also reinforce protections for citizens and support joint efforts to combat transnational crime.

Việt Nam Banks Face Rising Risks From Debt Guarantees, Bloomberg Says

Vietnamese banks are increasingly issuing standby letters of credit (SBLCs)—guarantees to repay corporate borrowers’ debts if they default—a trend that has drawn warnings from some credit-rating firms about hidden financial risks in the banking system, according to Bloomberg . SBLCs, which often do not appear on bank balance sheets, could expose lenders to sudden losses if corporate clients fail to meet obligations. Data cited by Bloomberg show SBLC values from listed banks rose sharply, intensifying concerns because many lenders have thin capital buffers to absorb potential hits. Market watchers suggest the need for greater transparency and risk controls.

Việt Nam to Tighten Gold and Foreign Currency Trading Rules

Beginning Feb. 9, the government’s Decree 340/2025/NĐ-CP on administrative penalties in the monetary and banking sector will take effect, imposing stricter controls on gold and foreign currency markets. Under the decree, businesses or individuals producing, trading, or transacting gold bars without a license from the State Bank of Việt Nam will face fines of 300–400 million đồng (approximately $11,500.00) and possible seizure of the violating gold. Transactions in gold or foreign currency worth 20 million đồng or more must be made via bank transfer, with cash deals subject to fines. Smaller breaches, like failing to post prices, can also incur penalties.

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