Key Events
- New Draft Exposes Expansive Cybersecurity Firewall;
- Việt Nam’s $16 Billion Airport Faces Questions Over Efficiency and Oversight;
- Ministry of Public Security Quickly and Quietly Moves Forward With Legal Drafts During Tết Period;
- Party-Nominated Candidates Overwhelm Assembly Race;
- Draft Decree Would Expand Police Authority Over Fake News.
Ministry of Public Security’s New Draft Raises Concerns Over Digital Surveillance Powers
Việt Nam will “focus on building a cybersecurity firewall.”
The statement, delivered by Public Security Minister Lương Tam Quang on Feb. 7 following the closing session of the Communist Party’s 14th National Congress, marked the first time senior officials have publicly framed the country’s digital governance strategy in those terms.
While Việt Nam has long been viewed internationally as maintaining one of the world’s most restrictive Internet control regimes, the authorities had not previously articulated an explicit objective to construct what they now describe as a “cybersecurity firewall.”
The remark comes as lawmakers finalize a sweeping overhaul of the country’s legal framework on cybersecurity. On Dec. 10, 2025, the 15th National Assembly passed a new Cybersecurity Law, set to take effect on July 1, 2026. Drafted by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the law consolidates and replaces the 2018 Cybersecurity Law and the 2015 Law on Information Security.
The 2025 statute introduces new elements to Việt Nam’s system of online governance, including language that for the first time references the development of a national firewall system. Point d, Clause 2, Article 10 states that authorities will “study the development of a national firewall system,” marking the first appearance of such terminology in Vietnamese legislation.
Further details emerged roughly two months later when the ministry released for public comment a draft titled “National Technical Standard on Cybersecurity—Firewall—Basic Technical Requirements.” The draft outlines a system described as a mandatory infrastructure for monitoring and filtering Internet activity.
According to the proposal, firewall devices that meet national standards would have features to filter internet traffic and perform deep packet inspection (DPI), which means they can closely examine the data being sent over networks.
The design also calls for SSL/TLS inspection—a technical capacity to decrypt encrypted communications, review their contents, and then re-encrypt them before transmission. The “https” prefix in web addresses shows that SSL/TLS protocols usually protect communications between users and websites.
The system would also integrate user identity data into individualized control policies and include web-filtering mechanisms based on blacklists of at least 100,000 domain names. Blacklists are defined as collections of IP addresses, domains, and URLs subject to restriction under information security policies, aimed at blocking content or activity deemed “undesirable.”
In addition, network devices would be required to log detailed information about every user session, including time stamps, source and destination addresses, protocols, and system responses. User activity would then be evaluated and assigned a “risk level,” triggering automated controls or alerts to cybersecurity authorities when thresholds are exceeded.
Separate draft regulations implementing the 2025 law would obligate telecommunications and internet service providers to store IP address identification data linked to subscriber information for at least 12 months. Companies must also establish direct technical connections to transmit IP data to the Ministry’s specialized cybersecurity force and provide user information within 24 hours—or within three hours in urgent cases.
All user data would be stored domestically at the MPS’s National Data Center. Officials have acknowledged, however, that Việt Nam faces a shortage of approximately 700,000 cybersecurity personnel, even as recruitment drives intensify.
Taken together, the legislative and regulatory measures signal a significant expansion of centralized state oversight of Việt Nam’s digital infrastructure.
Delays and Cost Concerns Shadow Long Thành Airport
“I asked whether it has surpassed Malaysia or Singapore, and no one could prove it. I asked how long it would take to recover the $16 billion and return it to the state, and no one could answer,” Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm said on Feb. 25 in Hà Nội, referring to the Long Thành International Airport project.
Speaking before central and local officials, Tô Lâm criticized state-owned enterprises for focusing on disbursement rather than economic accounting. He said many projects lack clear financial calculations, raising the risks of waste, corruption, and losses.
Using Long Thành airport as an example, he described the $16 billion price tag as daunting and questioned its measurable economic return. “I asked how much Long Thành Airport will contribute annually to national economic growth, and they could not calculate it,” Lâm said. Without proper accounting, he warned, inefficiencies and misconduct are likely to emerge.
Tô Lâm also contrasted state projects with private-sector efficiency, noting that private developers often complete projects faster and begin capital recovery earlier, while state works face delays and cost overruns.
This marks the second time this month that Tô Lâm has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the Long Thành project, which is currently under inspection and linked to criminal investigations involving multiple officials.
During a Feb. 9 visit to Ho Chi Minh City, he questioned transportation connectivity, arguing that travel time from the city to Long Thành should not exceed 30 minutes, instead of the current two hours due to congestion.
Despite conducting trial commercial takeoffs and landings in December 2025, the airport remains behind schedule. Originally slated for commercial operation in early 2026, the launch has been postponed to June 2026.
Recent weeks have seen leadership changes at key project stakeholders. The Airports Corporation of Việt Nam (ACV) appointed Lê Văn Khiên as legal representative on Feb. 26, replacing chairman Vũ Thế Phiệt. Newtecons and Vinaconex also announced senior leadership reshuffles.
On Feb. 25, Đồng Nai provincial police expanded an investigation into alleged violations related to land compensation and resettlement. Former Long Thành District Chairman Lê Văn Tiếp and five officials were charged with abuse of power in connection with compensation approvals.
Approved by the National Assembly in June 2015 with 86% support, the 5,000-hectare airport project was envisioned to handle up to 100 million passengers annually and ease pressure on Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport. From the outset, however, lawmakers and experts raised concerns about financial feasibility, debt sustainability, and regional competitiveness.
A decade later, as costs mount and investigations unfold, the project remains both a symbol of national ambition and a focal point of scrutiny.
The MPS Quietly Seeks Input on More Than 20 Draft Laws During Tết Holiday
Việt Nam’s MPS has quietly released and sought public feedback on over 20 draft legal documents in the lead-up to and during the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, raising questions about transparency and timing.
In the weeks before and during the nation’s Tết Nguyên Đán (Lunar New Year) break, the ministry published a series of draft laws, decrees, and circulars on its official portal and invited comments from citizens and organizations.
Many of the drafts were open for feedback for only nine days, and the consultation periods overlapped with the national holiday when many people are off work and media coverage is limited.
Among the drafts posted for comment were high-profile and potentially controversial texts, including a proposed decree on combating fake and false information—which attracted little public attention as it was published on Feb. 13 and closed for comments by Feb. 22.
Other drafts addressed cybersecurity, narcotics control, criminal enforcement, technical inspection standards, internal police procedures, and anti-crime fund regulations. Many of these also expired during the Tết holiday.
Critics and observers noted that state media rarely reported on the consultations, and coverage sometimes arrived only as deadlines were about to close or had already passed, limiting opportunities for meaningful public input.
Under Vietnamese law, soliciting public comments is a required step in drafting normative legal texts, and minimum consultation periods vary by document type. However, the timing of these releases raised concerns about how accessible the process was to a broad audience.
In response to questions about the timing and legality of the consultations, the ministry stated that publishing drafts during holidays is not prohibited under current rules, provided the consultation periods meet minimum statutory requirements, and the procedures comply with the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents.
It said that drafts were made available on official information channels to allow organizations and businesses to review and comment and that holiday timing does not by itself invalidate the process.
The disheveled way drafts are released is happening while the MPS is working hard on legal changes in many areas, such as anti-fake news, public security standards, and criminal procedure, highlighting its important role in shaping Việt Nam’s laws and regulations during ongoing discussions about balancing security, social order, and public involvement in making laws.
Civil society and legal experts anticipate ongoing reactions as additional draft texts emerge and the consultation process progresses in the coming weeks.
Only Four Independent Candidates Registered for National Assembly Election
In the run-up to Việt Nam’s National Assembly election scheduled for March 15, a newly released candidate list shows that just four people have registered as independent candidates, and state media have not publicly disclosed their identities or backgrounds, raising questions about transparency in the electoral process.
According to the National Election Council’s published list of 864 individuals running for seats in the 16th National Assembly, independent candidates—those not officially nominated by authorities—account for only 0.46% of the total. Official channels nominated more than 99% of candidates, with central authorities selecting 217 and local bodies selecting 643.
Among the four self-nominated candidates, two are reported to be based in Hồ Chí Minh City, though no further details about their names, professional backgrounds, or platforms have been provided in state media reports. News outlets referenced the number of self-nominated candidates but stopped short of identifying them or providing basic biographical information.
The small number of independent candidates highlights ongoing limitations in Việt Nam’s electoral system. While the constitution and electoral law formally allow citizens to stand for office without nomination by a sponsoring organization, observers note that the Communist Party-led political structure effectively limits both the number and visibility of such candidates.
Historically, the party and its affiliated bodies have significantly influenced the placement of candidates on official lists, particularly through pre-selection and screening processes.
In recent years, the number of self-nominated candidates who make it onto the official ballot has declined. Data from past election cycles show that while more individuals attempted independent runs, many were removed during preliminary vetting, known as the hiệp thương (vetting) process, which is overseen by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other institutions aligned with the political establishment to select the qualified candidates.
Analysts say the overwhelming dominance of party-endorsed candidates shapes the composition of the legislature and limits the range of voices represented in the Assembly. While the list includes some candidates outside the Communist Party, the majority are associated with state sectors, public institutions, or government-linked mass organizations.
As election day approaches, the scarcity of visible independent contenders and the lack of publicly available information about those who have chosen to run independently underscore broader debates about political pluralism and openness in Việt Nam’s one-party electoral system.
MPS Seeks Authority to Investigate False Information
A draft decree currently under consultation would grant Việt Nam’s Ministry of Public Security expanded authority to investigate and adjudicate cases involving “fake news” and information deemed harmful to state security, according to a recently published legal proposal.
The draft decree, which is part of the ongoing efforts to put the 2025 Cybersecurity Law and other legal changes into action, would allow the MPS’s special teams to take charge of checking, confirming, and dealing with cases of alleged false information. Under the proposal, these units could initiate investigations independently or act on referrals from other state agencies.
Specifically, the document defines “tin giả” (fake news) broadly as information that is unverified or fabricated and that affects social order, national security, public trust, or economic stability. The draft sets out procedures for determining whether content meets these criteria and outlines penalties for individuals and organizations found to be responsible for producing, disseminating, or promoting such information.
One notable element of the draft is the procedural power it would give police investigators to collect evidence, interview witnesses, and seize materials relevant to alleged fake news cases without requiring prior judicial authorization in certain circumstances.
The proposal would also establish collaborative mechanisms between the MPS and other ministries, state agencies, and digital platforms to support detection and enforcement efforts.
Civil society groups and digital rights advocates have previously raised concerns that broad definitions of fake news and expansive enforcement powers could be used to suppress dissent, restrict freedom of expression, and create a chilling effect on online discourse. Human rights organizations note that ambiguity in key terms may give law enforcement wide discretion in deciding what constitutes punishable information.
Under existing law, the MPS already plays a central role in monitoring digital content—including through the Cybersecurity Law and provisions on online information management—but the new draft would formalize and extend investigatory authority in a way that goes beyond monitoring to active enforcement and prosecution.
The draft decree is currently open for public comment, with a consultation period that precedes a formal review by the government and submission to the National Assembly for consideration.
If adopted, it would become part of a broader suite of legal instruments aimed at regulating online information flows, combating “harmful” content, and strengthening state capacity to manage digital spaces in Việt Nam’s one-party political system.
Observers say how the law is drafted, interpreted, and enforced will be key to its impact—both on public safety and on rights related to freedom of expression and access to information.
Quick Takes:
Communist Party Members Make Up 92% of National Assembly Candidates Despite Being 5.5% of Population
Communist Party members account for just 5.5% of Việt Nam’s population, but they represent over 92% of candidates running in the upcoming National Assembly election, according to official candidate statistics. Of 864 total candidates, 795 are party members, while only four are self-nominated, and the remainder are affiliated with mass, public organizations. The data highlights the dominance of the Communist Party in legislative representation. The strong skew in candidate composition comes as independent and non-party voices remain rare in Việt Nam’s one-party political system.
Human Rights Group Sounds Alarm Over Vietnam Arrest Warrant for U.S. Activist
A joint statement by the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and partners condemned the arrest warrant issued by Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security for Dr. Nguyễn Đình Thắng, a U.S. citizen and longtime human rights defender, as an escalation of transnational repression. The warrant, related to alleged terrorism charges, targets Dr. Thắng—president of Boat People SOS (BPSOS)—over his overseas activism and reports on religious freedom abuses in Việt Nam. Rights advocates called on Hà Nội to drop the charges, rescind the warrant, and end efforts to silence dissent beyond its borders, warning the move could undermine civil society and international human rights norms.
Việt Nam Sends Envoy to Meet Putin on Russia-Ukraine War Anniversary
Tô Lâm dispatched a special envoy to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 24, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung, acting as the special representative of Tô Lâm, conveyed Hanoi’s message that Việt Nam views Russia as a trusted long-term partner and expressed confidence in continued cooperation. He also extended an official invitation for Putin to visit Việt Nam, which Putin accepted.
The talks in the Kremlin covered potential collaboration in the energy, defense, nuclear technology, transport, and science sectors. Trung also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and leaders of major political parties during the visit. The visit’s timing, coinciding with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, is indicative of Vietnam’s diplomatic strategy.
Draft Law Would Force All Social Platforms to Verify Livestream Sellers’ Identities
A draft decree by Việt Nam’s MPS would require people who conduct livestream commercial sales to have verified identities, placing the obligation on both domestic and foreign social media platforms, according to the proposal. Platforms would have to link livestream accounts to Vietnamese mobile numbers or official identity numbers before allowing sellers to broadcast. Accounts that refuse to provide identification data could be removed from the platform. The draft shifts responsibility for enforcing livestream seller identification from the Ministry of Information and Communications to the MPS. The measure is part of broader efforts to tighten online regulation and tax compliance in the rapidly expanding e-commerce market.
U.S. Says It Will Remove Việt Nam From Strategic Export Control List
The United States plans to remove Việt Nam from its strategic export control list, the Vietnamese government announced following talks in Washington between President Donald Trump and Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm. Trump pledged to instruct relevant US agencies to delist Việt Nam from restrictions that currently slow or limit access to advanced US technologies, potentially easing export approvals for high-tech goods. The announcement came amid broader efforts to strengthen US–Việt Nam economic and strategic ties and follows recent aircraft and aerospace deals by Vietnamese carriers with US manufacturers. The commitment signals deepening cooperation between the two countries.
Việt Nam Vows Reforms After EU Adds It to Tax Blacklist
Việt Nam has pledged to improve tax transparency after the European Union placed it on its list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions following an OECD assessment citing shortcomings in information exchange standards. Officials said the government has amended the Law on Tax Administration and the Law on Enterprises and is preparing a national action plan to address EU concerns.
The Foreign Ministry described the listing as a technical matter and reaffirmed Việt Nam’s commitment to international tax governance standards. The designation could prompt additional reporting requirements for firms with EU ties.
