In June 2019, a group of political prisoners started a hunger strike to protest the inhumane treatment by the Vietnamese authorities in Camp 6, Nghe An Province. Specifically, the prisoners took action in objection to the prison camp authorities’ removal of all the electric fans despite the severe heat wave. After a month without any consideration from the authorities and worsening health condition of the prisoners, activists and family members of the prisoners departed from Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nghe An on July 12, 2019 to visit the prisoners and show their support during the strike.

However, plainclothes officers and unidentified individual ambushed these groups to prevent them from visiting. Armed with clubs and helmets, the individuals violently assaulted elderly citizens, youth, and even children in the groups before forcing them to turn back. All of the family members of the prisoners were unable to visit their relatives.