Bắc Ninh Police have made their first criminal arrest against a local resident for criticizing the Gia Bình Airport Project.
The Latest: On Aug. 21, Bắc Ninh Provincial Police charged Nguyễn Văn Quỳnh, a resident of Tam Đa commune born in 1989, with “abusing democratic freedoms” under Article 331 of the Penal Code.
- According to the newspaper Tiền Phong, authorities alleged he shared “false information” regarding the Gia Bình International Airport project.
- While Bắc Ninh police had previously issued administrative penalties and warnings to several people who posted information about the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) project, he is the first person to be criminally prosecuted over posts concerning the development.
The Details: Bắc Ninh police alleged that Nguyễn Văn Quỳnh published multiple pieces of “distorted and false” content that damaged the reputation of government agencies and organizations, affected security and public order, and delayed the Gia Bình International Airport project.
- Police also stated that he had previously “filed lawsuits beyond the prescribed level.” After authorities handled those cases, they claimed he remained “dissatisfied with the outcome” and “interpreted” the relevant regulations according to his understanding.
- Furthermore, police alleged that he “searched for and followed” content from “reactionary pages” before choosing to “post and share” it.
- Despite receiving “education and warnings,” authorities maintain that Nguyễn Văn Quỳnh continued publishing “false” content about Gia Bình International Airport.
However, Bắc Ninh police did not identify the airport-related content they considered “distorted and false.”
- It is also unknown whom Nguyễn Văn Quỳnh sued, why he “disagreed” with the outcome, or whether the litigation was connected to the Gia Bình International Airport project.
Luật Khoa attempted to call Bắc Ninh Provincial Police and Tam Đa commune police on the afternoon of Aug. 26, but no one answered.
Gia Bình International Airport Project: This venture is among Việt Nam’s fastest-moving airport projects, despite its investment policy only receiving approval in mid-December 2025.
- Overseen by the MPS, the project has an estimated investment of 196.378 trillion đồng, with Masterise Group serving as the developer.
- Nearly 1,960 hectares of land will be acquired, affecting approximately 7,100 households and 118 organizations.
- Approximately 5,800 households are expected to be resettled.
Construction is divided into two main phases: from 2025 to 2030, and from 2031 to 2050.
- Work during the first two years will focus heavily on facilities serving the 2027 APEC summit.
Why It Matters: Officials have prioritized “ensuring security” and “keeping the project on schedule” throughout its implementation.
In December 2025, under the ministry’s direction, Bắc Ninh province established the Steering Committee for Security and Public Order for the Gia Bình International Airport Project.
- Among its principal duties is preventing “negative” posts and comments that “affect public opinion and communication efforts related to land clearance and project implementation.”
- Since construction began in September 2025, dozens of people have reportedly been “educated,” warned or penalized for allegedly spreading “fake news” about the project.
Hoàng Nam wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on August 26, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
