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Key Events

Hà Nội’s Red River Megaproject Raises Old Fears Over Land Seizures;

US Expands Trade Pressure on Việt Nam With Third Probe;

Việt Nam Buys Indian Missiles as South China Sea Tensions Rise;

China, Việt Nam, and Philippines Race to Fortify South China Sea Outposts;

Huế Facebook Case Raises New Questions Over Online Speech Controls.

Hà Nội’s $28 Billion Red River Landscape Boulevard Megaproject Faces Growing Resident Pushback

Residents along Hà Nội’s Red River are continuing to escalate public opposition to a $28 billion urban redevelopment project, pressing lawmakers to intervene as authorities and developers move toward a large-scale land clearance that could displace long-established riverside communities.

The Hà Nội People’s Council unanimously approved the Red River Landscape Boulevard project on May 11, making it one of the capital’s most ambitious urban planning efforts.

It is expected to pass through 16 wards and communes, cover about 11,418 hectares, and affect more than 200,000 residents. City leaders have framed the project as a strategic plan to redesign urban space along the Red River and improve Hà Nội’s central urban area.

But for residents living outside the dike, the plan has triggered a widening backlash over fears of total clearance, inadequate compensation, and the erasure of historic communities.

Recently, residents in Facebook groups dedicated to the project have called on National Assembly delegates to speak publicly about their concerns. No sitting delegate –including those representing Hà Nội constituencies—has publicly addressed the project or voiced residents’ demands.

Residents have urged lawmakers to raise their “urgent” concerns before the National Assembly and the media, especially as Việt Nam prepares to amend the Land Law later this year.

Their core demands are clear: no total clearance, preservation of existing villages and communities, and adequate compensation.

The backlash intensified after state media reported on May 27 that the Đại Quang Minh–THACO–Hòa Phát consortium, the project’s investor, had proposed an accelerated timeline for implementation.

Under the proposed schedule, only 2.5 months would be allowed for site clearance after compensation and resettlement plans are approved. For residents, the pace suggested that deadlines, rather than meaningful consultation, drove land recovery.

Many have also framed the project as a cultural rupture. In villages such as Đại Lan, Thúy Lĩnh, and Bắc Biên, residents have posted banners asking the authorities to preserve existing residential areas.

One slogan warned that a person has only one ancestral homeland — and losing it means losing everything. Village elders and residents say relocation would not simply move houses but sever clan structures, religious practices, and the living connection between communities and their historical relics.

The dispute has also taken on a darker political resonance. In Red River resident groups, some users have referenced the deadly 2020 Đồng Tâm land dispute, warning that unresolved land conflicts can escalate when the authorities ignore public grievances. Many of those posts were swiftly deleted, reflecting both the sensitivity of land conflicts in Việt Nam and the limits of online discussion around them.

Local authorities have, meanwhile, moved to contain visible protest. In Bồ Đề Ward, officials instructed residents not to hang project-related banners, saying they could affect urban aesthetics, security, and order. The ward said residents should remove them voluntarily; otherwise, working groups would directly “communicate and persuade” them to do so.

The Red River project is now becoming more than an urban planning dispute. It is a test of whether Hà Nội can pursue a landmark development project without silencing the communities asked to sacrifice the most for it.

U.S. Opens Third Trade Probe Into Việt Nam as Tariff Pressure Mounts

The United States has opened a third trade investigation into Việt Nam in as many months, intensifying pressure on one of Washington’s fastest-growing trading partners as the Trump administration seeks to narrow a widening trade deficit.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on May 29 that it had launched a Section 301 investigation into Việt Nam’s intellectual property protection and enforcement practices. The probe, which will examine whether Hà Nội’s policies and enforcement record have harmed U.S. commerce, could lead to new tariffs or other trade measures.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Việt Nam must address “long-standing concerns” over intellectual property enforcement in a sustained way that deters future infringements.

The investigation follows Washington’s decision in April to designate Việt Nam a “priority foreign country” over intellectual property issues — the first such designation for any country in 13 years.

Việt Nam is already facing two separate Section 301 probes: one over alleged excess manufacturing capacity and another over forced labor concerns. Together, the investigations create a new layer of uncertainty for Việt Nam’s export-driven economy, which relies heavily on the U.S. market.

The latest probe also comes after the U.S. initially imposed a steep 46% tariff on Việt Nam last year, which it later reduced to 20%. Despite months of negotiations, the two countries still have not reached a final trade agreement.

The U.S. trade deficit with Việt Nam reached $178.2 billion in 2025, up about $54.7 billion from the previous year. In March, Việt Nam posted the second-largest trade surplus with the United States after Taiwan, ahead of China and Mexico.

Việt Nam’s trade deficit widened to a record $5.21 billion in May as imports surged, adding pressure to an export-driven economy already facing renewed U.S. tariff risks. Imports jumped 33.8% from a year earlier, outpacing an 18% rise in exports, according to the National Statistics Office.

For the first five months of 2026, Việt Nam recorded a $13.8 billion deficit, reversing a $5.1 billion surplus in the same period last year. The widening gap comes as Washington considers tariffs of up to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, including Việt Nam.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phạm Thu Hằng urged Washington to conduct an “objective and fair assessment,” saying the review should recognize Việt Nam’s efforts and be handled in a constructive spirit consistent with the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Hà Nội has also launched a crackdown on piracy websites, counterfeit goods, and trademark violations, targeting a 20% increase in enforcement cases compared with the previous May.

The trade pressure is rising even as the two countries strengthen defense ties amid shared concerns over China’s activities in the South China Sea. That puts Việt Nam in a difficult position: deepening strategic cooperation with Washington while trying to avoid becoming the next major target of U.S. tariff policy.

Việt Nam Buys BrahMos Missiles as South China Sea Tensions Deepen

Việt Nam has signed a deal to buy India’s BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles, becoming the latest Southeast Asian country to acquire the supersonic weapon system as regional states move to strengthen their maritime defenses amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh confirmed the deal during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, according to The Maritime Executive. Reuters reported that the parties signed the agreement in March, which is worth about $629 million. Based on that value, Việt Nam is believed to have ordered six coastal missile batteries, which can target both ships and land-based positions.

The acquisition represents an important milestone in Việt Nam’s defense modernization and deepens its strategic relationship with India. The two countries have expanded military cooperation since 2022, driven in part by shared concerns over China’s growing power and assertive actions.

For Việt Nam, the purchase is especially significant because of its long-running maritime disputes with China. Hà Nội still remembers the 1979 border war and China’s 1988 seizure of parts of the Spratly Islands, where 64 mostly unarmed Vietnamese soldiers were killed by the Chinese navy.

The BrahMos is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile jointly developed by India and Russia. It can travel at around Mach 3, carry a 200-kilogram warhead, and strike targets on land or at sea up to about 180 miles away. It can be launched from ships, aircraft, or coastal batteries and is designed as a “fire-and-forget” system with multiple target-acquisition sensors to reduce vulnerability to jamming.

The sale is especially significant because many Chinese-held islands and installations in the South China Sea would fall within BrahMos range if the missiles were deployed from Vietnamese-controlled islands. The Philippines has already received the first of the three BrahMos coastal batteries it ordered in 2024. Indonesia has also entered an agreement to procure the missile system.

The buildup reflects a broader trend: Southeast Asian countries are moving individually to strengthen their defenses as ASEAN struggles to form a unified response to Chinese expansion. The Maritime Executive noted that while countries facing China have generally avoided deploying heavy weapons on their South China Sea outposts, Chinese-occupied islands are already heavily militarized with anti-ship and air-defense systems.

Vietnam’s BrahMos deal is more than just a weapons purchase. It is a signal that Hà Nội is preparing to defend its maritime claims with stronger deterrence, even as it continues to avoid open confrontation with Beijing.

China, Việt Nam and Philippines Expand Footholds in South China Sea

China, Việt Nam, and the Philippines are accelerating efforts to reinforce the maritime features they control in the South China Sea, signaling a new phase in one of Asia’s most volatile territorial disputes: grab what you can, build what you hold, and prepare for a long contest with Beijing, the BBC reports .

Antelope Reef, a small teardrop-shaped feature in the Paracel Islands, was until recently almost entirely underwater. In just six months, China has transformed it into a 6-square-kilometer crescent of white sand, with buildings visible in one corner and dozens of ships operating inside its lagoon.

The vessels are believed to be cutter suction dredgers, powerful ships capable of pulling thousands of cubic meters of sand from the seabed each hour. The speed of the operation is striking, and the straight-line edge of one newly formed beach suggests China may be preparing a military-grade runway.

Antelope Reef lies in the Paracel Islands, which China seized from South Việt Nam in 1974 and which Việt Nam still claims. Beijing has already turned reefs in the Spratly Islands, including Mischief, Fiery Cross, and Subi, into artificial islands with airports and military bases. Its latest dredging push appears designed not only to consolidate control but also to remind other claimants that China remains the dominant force at sea.

Việt Nam, after years of watching China reshape disputed waters, has launched its reclamation campaign. Over the past three years, Hà Nội has pumped sand around at least 20 reefs and created 11 new harbors, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Việt Nam now controls more than 11 square kilometers of reclaimed land, about half of China’s total.

The Philippines is also reinforcing its positions. Manila is expanding the runway on Pagasa Island, also known as Thitu; building a coast guard base there; and strengthening the rusting BRP Sierra Madre, the landing craft it deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999. A small Philippine military detachment remains stationed on board despite repeated harassment by Chinese vessels.

ASEAN has spent decades trying to negotiate a binding code of conduct with China, but analysts increasingly doubt such a deal is possible. Greg Poling of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative said most claimants now recognize that a legally binding agreement may never materialize, especially as China continues to act unilaterally at sea.

The South China Sea’s new reality is one of self-help. With diplomacy stalled and China still the biggest and most assertive player, rival claimants are fortifying what they already control before the balance shifts further against them.

Huế Police Defend Summons of 45 Facebook Users After Public Backlash

Huế police have defended their handling of 45 Facebook users accused of “frequently interacting” with so-called “reactionary” pages, after a police video about the case drew thousands of critical comments questioning whether the action violated freedom of expression.

On June 4, the Huế City Police posted a video on its official Facebook page describing its “handling” of 45 accounts that it said had regularly interacted with pages accused of spreading “false,” “fabricated,” "distorted," and “anti-state” information. Within 24 hours, the video drew nearly 20,000 reactions and more than 3,000 comments, many of them critical, according to Luật Khoa Magazine.

Many commenters mocked or challenged the police action. One user asked whether someone could be summoned for “accidentally passing gas,” while another asked whether the police’s main duty was to protect the party or the people. Another comment alluded to Việt Nam’s common 7.5 million đồng ($285) administrative fine for online speech violations.

In response, the police wrote in the comment section that many users had rushed to mock, distort, or draw conclusions without fully reviewing the information, context, and legal rules involved. They rejected claims that the case showed a lack of freedom of expression or pressure on citizens, saying the “handling” was not based merely on following a page or reacting with an emoji.

Instead, the police said the accounts had been assessed “comprehensively,” based on their level of participation, the content of their interactions, and whether they shared, promoted, or spread information deemed illegal. The agency also urged citizens to uphold the law and said online conduct should be guided by awareness and responsibility.

Luật Khoa Magazine noted that on May 20, Huế police had previously summoned 45 people for “frequently following, accessing, and interacting” with Facebook groups linked to alleged exiled “reactionaries.” It remains unclear whether that earlier case and the one described in the June 4 video are the same.

The case fits a wider pattern of tightening control over online expression in Việt Nam. Luật Khoa Magazine listed several recent incidents in which users were summoned or fined for online activity, including Facebook comments, joining groups, and sharing posts online in Nghệ An, Lào Cai, Cao Bằng, and Đà Nẵng.

The Huế case shows how Việt Nam’s online speech controls are expanding from posts and shares to looser forms of engagement, raising new concerns over whether ordinary interactions can become grounds for police scrutiny.

Quick Takes:

Two Montagnard Christians Detained in Việt Nam’s Central Highlands

Two Montagnard Christians have been arrested in Việt Nam’s Central Highlands, deepening concerns over the state’s treatment of ethnic minority religious communities. Pastor Siu Yúi, 68, and church member Siu Dok, 40, were detained in Gia Lai Province and charged under Article 116 of the Penal Code for allegedly “undermining the policy of national unity.” The authorities accused the two of using religious teachings to encourage ethnic minorities to support separatism and independence. Rights groups say Article 116 is frequently used against ethnic minority and religious communities. The arrests follow a broader pattern of pressure on independent Christian groups in the Central Highlands.

Việt Nam Inflation Rises as Trade Deficit Hits Record High

Việt Nam’s inflation accelerated in May while its trade deficit widened to a record high, increasing pressure on the export-dependent economy as rising fuel costs and global trade uncertainty weigh on growth.

The annual inflation rate rose to 5.6% in May, up from 5.46% in April, according to the National Statistics Office. Exports increased 18% from a year earlier to $46.93 billion, but imports jumped 33.8% to $52.14 billion, leaving a $5.21 billion trade deficit. Reuters said the shortfall widened from April as Việt Nam paid more for imported fuels amid the Iran war. The figures highlight rising costs for manufacturers and renewed risks as Việt Nam faces possible U.S. tariff pressure.

Philippines, Việt Nam Upgrade Ties Amid South China Sea Tensions

The Philippines and Việt Nam have elevated relations to an enhanced strategic partnership, with both countries calling peace and stability in the South China Sea non-negotiable. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the announcement Monday during Tô Lâm’s official visit from Vietnam to Manila. The two sides pledged stronger political, defense, and economic cooperation and reaffirmed support for freedom of navigation, international law, the 1982 UNCLOS treaty, and the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea. They also signed agreements on defense, technology, tourism, and education while pledging closer work on food security and regional challenges.

Hà Nội Police Test AI Drones for Urban Surveillance

Hà Nội police have launched a pilot program using AI-powered drones to monitor traffic, public security, and urban order in the capital. The trial began June 1 and will run through Aug. 30, with drones deployed in busy areas including Hoàn Kiếm and Tây Hồ wards. The drones transmit images in real time through 4G and 5G networks to the city’s police command center. Authorities say the system can detect violations such as illegal parking, sidewalk encroachment, and waste dumping. The drones were developed by Vietnamese firms MiSmart and Gtel Robot.

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