Dr. Võ Trí Hảo has made an unprecedented proposal to transform the shuttered Saigon Times into Việt Nam’s first officially recognized private newspaper since 1981.
The Latest: On June 30, Dr. Võ Trí Hảo, a senior expert at the Institute for International and Comparative Law under the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University, Hồ Chí Minh City, posted a proposal on Facebook calling on Saigon Times—also known as Tạp chí Kinh tế Sài Gòn, or KTSG—to “ask the Party for permission” to pilot as Việt Nam’s first private newspaper.
- This proposal arrived on the magazine’s final day of publishing—June 30—following a June 9 directive from the Hồ Chí Minh City Party Committee ordering the dissolution of eight newspapers, including KTSG.
- The publication will officially end all operations on Aug. 31.
The Details: Dr. Võ Trí Hảo argued that the proposal aligns with the Communist Party’s broader orientation on private-sector development under Resolution 68.
- He urged KTSG to consider “boldly asking the Party for permission” to establish the magazine as the “first private newspaper, linked to a private economic think tank” in the “era of national rise.”
He emphasized that KTSG stands apart from other newspapers for three distinct reasons:
- It has gathered 900 experts, evolving into a “non-institutional think tank” with a value “no less than” major research bodies such as the Central Theoretical Council or the Central Institute for Economic Management;
- Its economic coverage is “essential” to the business community;
- Its economic topics are generally “less sensitive.”
Public Support: The proposal quickly garnered support from journalists and legal experts.
- In the comments, Nguyễn Thiện wrote: “I am waiting. As someone who contributed to KTSG across hundreds of issues, I am ready to sign the proposal.”
- Lawyer Hoàng Hà stated, “If the private newspaper Saigon Times—the English name of KTSG — operates under a socialist online newspaper model that is both ideologically sound and professionally competent, it would be well worth considering.”
- Sharing the post, journalist Mai Quốc Ấn of the Vietnam News Agency wrote: “A very good idea! […]Since I wrote this status right after reading Võ Trí Hảo’s post, it may still lack many relevant legal documents. But I think jurists, lawyers, and people knowledgeable about the law who care about Thời báo Kinh Tế Sài Gòn can add more. Applying those legal grounds to preserve the Thời báo Kinh Tế Sài Gòn brand is not only lawful but also in line with public sentiment. […] Share it — someone may need this!”
Tạp chí Kinh tế Sài Gòn: Tạp chí Kinh tế Sài Gòn (formerly Thời báo Kinh Tế Sài Gòn) published its first issue on Jan. 4, 1991. Over more than 35 years, it became one of Việt Nam’s most respected economic publications, delivering in-depth and critical analysis on policy, macroeconomics, business, investment, trade, finance, real estate, agriculture, and sustainable development.
On June 25, KTSG published an article by Nguyễn Quang Đồng—director of the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development (IPS)— in its final print edition titled “’Kinh tế Sài Gòn (KTSG)—a companion of our think tank.”
- He wrote: “Independent policy research institutes — or think tanks — remain young entities in Việt Nam. […] That work requires the most trusted companions: professional, serious newspapers with strong intellectual content. For IPS experts, our gratitude and appreciation for KTSG — a trusted companion on our 10-year journey—is difficult to fully express.”
Private Press History: Private journalism was common in the South before 1975 and in the North before 1954, until the Communist Party forced such newspapers to close.
- The last private newspaper allowed to operate in Việt Nam after 1975 was Tin Sáng in Hồ Chí Minh City, which shut down in 1981.
Why It Matters: Current Vietnamese law does not permit private journalism; the government does not recognize or license truly private outlets such as Luật Khoa Tạp Chí and Việt Nam Thời Báo. In practice, private media entities only exist under state cover.
- Outlets like VnExpress and the former Zing News operate legally under the names of state agencies or state-licensed social organizations.
- Others, like Kênh 14 and CafeF, are legally classified as “aggregated information websites” limited to republishing state media news, while foreign brands like Forbes Việt Nam and Bloomberg Businessweek operate under state umbrellas.
- However, the National Assembly and the Communist Party possess mechanisms to create “special” or “pilot” policies when existing laws do not allow for them.
Implementing Dr. Hảo’s proposal would potentially save an institution whose closure has sparked widespread public sorrow and regret.
Hoàng Nam wrote this article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on July 1, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine has the copyrights to the English translation.
