Publishing news that negatively impacts Việt Nam’s image or foreign relations can now result in administrative fines of up to 400 million đồng ($15,400) under a newly implemented government decree.
The Latest: On Sept. 25, the government issued Decree 367/2026 regarding administrative penalties for press violations.
- The decree was signed and took effect just one day later on Sept. 26.
The Details: Under Article 14, Clause 8 of the new decree, organizations face fines ranging from 300 million to 400 million đồng for “publishing or broadcasting information that negatively affects Việt Nam’s standing, reputation, or image; harms foreign relations or international cooperation between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and other countries or partners.”
- Individuals face fines of 150 million to 200 million đồng for the same offenses.
These penalties also apply to publishing or broadcasting information deemed inconsistent with the interests of the country and its people; distorted or fabricated information that causes public alarm; and content specified in Article 8, Clause 2, Point c of Press Law 126/2025.
- However, the decree does not define what constitutes a negative effect on Việt Nam’s standing, reputation, or image, nor does it specify the criteria for determining whether a news article “harms” foreign relations or international cooperation.
Changes in Legislation: Decree 367/2026 replaces Decree 119/2020, which contained no provisions addressing the standing, reputation, image, or foreign relations of the country.
- The phrases “Việt Nam’s image,” “foreign relations,” “standing and reputation,” and “international cooperation” appeared nowhere in the previous decree as well.
Under the previous decree, the toughest penalties (Article 8, Clause 8) ranged from 150 million to 200 million đồng for seven specific categories of published or broadcast information:
- Content inconsistent with the interests of the country and its people
- Distortions or fabrications causing public alarm
- Content affecting independence, sovereignty, or territorial integrity
- Distortions of history, denials of revolutionary achievements, or insults to the nation or national heroes
- Content affecting national unity
- Infringements on freedom of belief or religion
- State secrets
A contradiction also exists between the old and new regulations; while penalties for content concerning the state have risen to 2.5 times their previous level, a key provision protecting individuals has disappeared.
- Article 8, Clause 2, Point c of Decree 119/2020 imposed fines of 5 million to 10 million đồng for “publishing or broadcasting an individual’s photograph without that person’s consent, except as otherwise provided by law.”
- Article 14 of Decree 367/2026 no longer lists that violation. The closest remaining provision is Article 14, Clause 3, Point h, which imposes fines of 20 million to 40 million đồng for disclosing private information about an individual without consent.
The Background: Since former Minister of Public Security Tô Lâm became general secretary in August 2024, the police have significantly expanded their powers, while administrative fines across various sectors have risen sharply.
- Commune police have also gained broader authority across multiple areas, including the power, effective Aug. 19, 2026, to impose fines of up to 100 million đồng for posting distorted information online.
Thành Phương wrote this news article in Vietnamese and published it in Luật Khoa Magazine on September 28, 2026. The Vietnamese Magazine translated it into English.
