Timeline of Freedom of Expression in Vietnam

May 11, 2022

Journalist and political prisoner Ho Duc Hoa was put on a plane bound for the United States and sent into exile, just as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was about to depart for Washington for the U.S.-ASEAN special summit. more

May 6, 2022

Anh Tuyet, wife of Do Nam Trung, and Trung’s mother were allowed to visit Trung for the first time. Tuyet said that Trung looked healthy and told her he is treated well by others in jail, including the guards. more

May, 2022

Le Anh Hung was moved from the National Psychiatric Ward in Hanoi, where he was admitted in April 2019, and returned to prison so that the criminal prosecution against him could resume. more

May, 2022

Reporters Sans Frontieres released its annual rankings on press freedom. Vietnam ranked seventh from the bottom, sandwiched between Cuba and China. more

April 22, 2022

Do Le Na, wife of Le Trong Hung, and Hung’s mother, were able to visit him for the first time since his arrest, just days after his forced appeal trial. more

April 2, 2022

Huynh Thuc Vy wrote home to say she was healthy and being treated well in prison. more

April, 2022

Political prisoner Nguyen Thuy Hanh was transferred from pre-trial detention to the Central Mental Health Hospital in Hanoi after two medical examinations determined she was suffering from severe depression.

April, 2022

Several ministries collaborated to approve a list of 17 religious books that prisoners are allowed to read, in what many former prisoners called a PR move aimed at deceiving the public about the true state of religious suppression inside Vietnamese jails. more

March 18, 2022

Do Le Na, wife of Le Trong Hung, visited his prison; she was not allowed to meet with him in person but was able to give him some food and necessities. more

March 15, 2022

The wives of Tran Duc Thach and Nguyen Trung Ton visited them in prison but were not allowed to see their husbands in person. more

March 13, 2022

Le Anh Hung is reported to be healthy and is no longer forced to take medication.

March 12, 2022

Nguyen Tuong Thuy was suffering from poor vision and hearing, as well as ulcerative colitis.

March 12, 2022

The wives of Nguyen Ngoc Anh and Ho Dinh Cuong reported that prisoners in Xuan Loc Prison are suffering from mange and ringworm, but prison officials have ignored their repeated complaints. more

March 11, 2022

Huynh Duc Thanh Binh and fellow inmates reported to be suffering from mange and ringworm caused by acidic polluted water. Xuan Loc prisoners have complained many times to no avail. more

March 9, 2022

Do Nam Trung met with his lawyers, Luan Le and Pham Le Quyen, and was in good health and had been vaccinated against COVID-19. He was still waiting for his appeal trial.

March 8, 2022

Trinh Ba Phuong's lawyer reported that Phuong got his COVID-19 vaccination and that his health was fine.

March 1, 2022

Do Nam Trung’s mother was turned away from a prison visit and was told that only “cooked food” was allowed. more

March, 2022

Bui Van Thuan’s wife received a letter from him: he'd had two shots of the Pfizer vaccine and was in generally good health but had been having persistent joint pains. more

February 22, 2022

Can Thi Theu and Trinh Ba Tu were arbitrarily moved to new prisons: Prison no. 5 in Thanh Hoa Province and Camp 6 in Nghe An Province, respectively.

February 22, 2022

Vo Thuong Trung was released early from prison.

February 21, 2022

In a letter home, Huynh Thuc Vy said she’s in good health and spirits, and has been treated well. Her only complaint is that prison officials keep her letters too long before sending them to her family.

February, 2022

According to her family, Huynh Thuc Vy was transferred to Gia Trung detention center, 200km away from her home.

February, 2022

The family of mother and son Can Thi Theu and Trinh Ba Tu still have not been allowed to see or call them, allegedly because of their refusal to take “re-education” courses.

February, 2022

Nguyen Thai Hung was infected with Covid-19, his family reported, though they didn't know where he was being held.

January 27, 2022

The Court accepted Pham Doan Trang's motion for an appeal. Trang has been denied family and lawyer visits since her trial in December.

January 10, 2022

Dang Dinh Bach started a hunger strike on January 10 to protest against his prolonged detention and not being allowed family visits. more

January, 2022

Huynh Thuc Vy’s brother said the prison has still rejected their attempts to give Vy her depression medication.

January, 2022

Political prisoner Pham Thanh was transferred to Nam Ha prison camp.

December 13, 2021

Political prisoner Huynh Duc Thanh Binh reported that his fellow inmate Huynh Huu Dat, 52, had died in prison due to lack of proper healthcare. more

December 1, 2021

Huynh Thuc Vy was taken into custody after a court in Dak Lak revoked the suspension which allowed her to delay serving her prison sentence. more

November 23, 2021

The fiance of Do Nam Trung reported that his health was stable and that he regained some of the weight that he had lost. However, Trung said he had not received the full amount of money she’d been sending him, more

November 22, 2021

Le Trong Hung saw his lawyer, who reported that Hung's eyesight has gotten worse and that some of his basic requests, such as for books, have been denied. more

November 11, 2021

Do Nam Trung was allowed to see his lawyer, his health was stable, and he had received money that his family sent but not any other items. more

November, 2021

At least eight political prisoners at Xuan Loc Prison were 60 days into a hunger strike, demanding to be allowed outside, after being held in their cells since June. more

November, 2021

Phan Kim Khanh’s sister said her brother was able to call the family after getting cut off during his last call two weeks ago. He did report that he had been on a 10-day hunger strike and had just resumed eating. more

October 30, 2021

Phan Kim Khanh had his call with his family cut off after he warned that if they don’t hear from him within 15 days then “something bad will have happened." more

October 26, 2021

Le Trong Hung met his lawyer for the first time since his March 2020 arrest; he asked for copies of the Bible and Constitution, which were denied.

October 21, 2021

Trinh Ba Phuong’s wife, Thu Do, received a letter that she could visit her husband on October 21. But when she got to the prison, she was turned away with no official documentation.

October 19, 2021

More than a year after her arrest, Pham Doan Trang, was finally allowed to see her lawyer, Luan Le; she has not been seen by a doctor during detention despite numerous health issues.

October, 2021

Trinh Ba Phuong was in good physical and mental health, despite prior issues. He told his lawyer that investigators told him if he did not plead guilty they would arrest his wife.

October, 2021

Former police captain Le Chi Thanh's mother claimed Thanh was allegedly severely tortured in prison. more

October, 2021

Authorities finished the investigation of activist Do Nam Trung after only three months of pre-trial detention, his family has reported. They are still waiting to hear what are the charges against him. more

October, 2021

After not hearing from Bui Van Thuan for a month and a half, his wife, Trinh Nhung, received a notice that he’d been admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with gout and a liver infection.

October, 2021

Le Trong Hung’s wife, Le Na, reported that her 10-year-old child has been followed around by secret police and subjected to other forms of psychological attacks. more

October, 2021

Trinh Ba Tu told his lawyer that when he was arrested the police beat him so severely that he had a kidney contusion and had to be taken to the hospital. His health is OK now, but his mother, Theu, still has some issues with her eyes

October, 2021

Do Le Na, the visually impaired wife of Le Trong Hung, went to bring him warm clothes, but was told her husband did not want to receive anything from outside. more

September, 2021

Dinh Thi Thu Thuy was transferred to An Phuoc Prison, with better conditions, but was still suffering from health issues.

September, 2021

Truong Duy Nhat was finally allowed to get a visit from his family for the first time since December 2020; he has to work 45 hours a week with a herniated disc. more

September, 2021

Truong Minh Duc told his wife that prisoners had not received any vaccines, he was running low on medication, and he has not received any of the letters that his wife sent to him. more

September, 2021

In a call home, Hoang Duc Binh complained that he was discriminated against by prison guards. When he asked his family to contact his lawyer to file a complaint about his case, the guard listening cut off the call.

May 10, 2021

Former political prisoner Ho Van Hai was allowed to come to the US even though technically still had two years of probation left. more

May, 2021

Le Quy Loc was beaten by prison guards at the An Phuoc Detention Center for asking to be allowed to play sports, as guaranteed by law. Loc went on a hunger strike for eight days in response. more

May, 2021

When Do Le Na, wife of Le Trong Hung, brought supplies to her husband, she was given a note allegedly signed by her husband that said he no longer would accept money or supplies from the family. Being blind, Na was unable to verify it.

May, 2021

The daughter of Can Thi Theu reported that Theu was denied a request to be tested for HIV after bleeding from trying to break up a fight between other prisoners, some of whom are HIV positive. more

May, 2021

Pham Chi Thanh was finally allowed to see a lawyer for the first time since his arrest in May 2020. According to attorney Ha Huy Son, Thanh was in good health, but his family said he had earlier fallen and hit his head, requiring stitches. more

May, 2021

Per the family, the authorities have extended the deadline for their investigation of Trinh Ba Phuong until June 18, 2021.

April 24, 2021

Hoang Duc Binh’s brother reported on April 24 that he was not allowed to visit him in prison for the fifth straight time. more

April 13, 2021

Political prisoner Ho Dinh Cuong told his wife that he was moved to Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province.

April 4, 2021

Political prisoner Ngo Hao, 73, and his wife Thi Kim Lan, were allowed to emigrate to Finland after Hao's 15-year sentence was temporarily suspended in 2020 for medical reasons. more

April 1, 2021

Ngo Van Dung, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, and Le Quy Loc were transferred to An Phuoc Prison. more

April 1, 2021

Trinh Ba Phuong’s wife, Thu Do, said that Phuong was back in Prison No. 1 in Hanoi, after being evaluated at Mental Hospital Central 1. more

March 29, 2021

Tran Thanh Phuong’s wife reported that he was disciplined for refusing to sign a letter admitting guilt and for helping other prisoners request better conditions. He also told her he’d been moved to a much smaller cell with criminal prisoners. more

March 24, 2021

Hoang Duc Binh’s family tried to visit him and bring supplies, but their request was denied for the fourth consecutive time.

March, 2021

Authorities increased Le Anh Hung's medication dosage to 12 pills, and if he refused to take them, he reported that they would inject him with it. more

March, 2021

Nguyen Bac Truyen’s wife, Bui Kim Phuong, told The 88 Project that her husband has been mistreated in prison, denied letters and medical treatment, and his petitions not forwarded the court

March, 2021

Nguyen Tuong Thuy’s wife reported that her husband was moved to a different prison, and when she went to visit him there, she was not allowed to see him; he was also suffering from a hand injury more

March, 2021

Trinh Ba Phuong’s wife, Thu Do, reported that her husband was transferred from prison to Mental Hospital Central 1 more

March, 2021

Prison authorities arbitrarily transferred Trinh Ba Phuong to a new prison without giving notice to his family. more

March, 2021

Prison guards released a dog on political prisoner Nguyen Van Duc Do to keep him quiet while he was in solitary confinement. more

March, 2021

Update from family-- Nguyen Bac Truyen was under psychological stress caused by prison guards. He told his wife guards had been using other prisoners to harass and provoke him so that they could “isolate and demean him.”

March, 2021

Update from family-- Nguyen Nang Tinh was fighting for his right to practice his faith. He requested a meeting with a Catholic priest, but the prison authorities didn't respond to his requests.

February 20, 2021

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc began another hunger strike, his third since October 2020. more

February 17, 2021

Journalist Le Anh Hung was denied New Year visits from his supporters at the hospital where he was being held. more

February 3, 2021

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc has ended his hunger strike after 72 days. more

February, 2021

Hoang Duc Binh’s family finally received a letter from him saying that he’s been suffering from sinusitis and was not allowed to receive traditional medication that the family sent nor receive treatment in the hospital. more

February, 2021

Dinh Thi Thu Thuy was admitted to a hospital for vestibular disorder and heart valve regurgitation. She was also suffering from a calcium deficiency and insomnia due to the unhealthy conditions at the temporary detention center in Hau Giang. more

January 29, 2021

Hoang Duc Binh again denied a visit from his family at An Diem Prison more

January 21, 2021

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc called his family and reported he was still on his hunger strike, drinking only milk and having lost a lot of weight. He will reported he will continue the strike, two months since he started.

January 1, 2021

Journalist Pham Thanh was moved from a medical facility back to Hoa Lo Prison on New Year’s Day without notice. more

January, 2021

Phan Kim Khanh was reported to be in bad health in prison due to being held in isolation. more

January, 2021

Ngo Van Dung was transferred to Bo La Detention Center, Binh Duong Province

December 13, 2020

Writer Pham Van Troi‘s wife went to visit him and reported that fellow prisoner Ho Duc Hoa, a social activist, was then on his 5th day of a hunger strike and was in poor condition more

December 7, 2020

The trial for Facebookers Huynh Anh Khoa and Nguyen Dang Thuong was moved to December 21 after Thuong requested a delay due to poor health. more

December 3, 2020

Dinh Thi Thu Thuy finally was finally allowed to see her lawyers for the first time. Attorneys Nguyen Van Mieng and Trinh Vinh Phuc said her mental health was poor due to being held incommunicado. more

December, 2020

It was reported that political prisoner Nguyen Trung Linh was being held in a mental health facility. more

November 30, 2020

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc's family visited him during his hunger strike and reported that he was extremely weak. He asked his family to share a public message. more

November 30, 2020

The first-instance trial for Tran Duc Thach was canceled without warning; his family was told he was unfit to stand trial due to health issues. more

November 27, 2020

Nguyen Van Hoa ended his hunger strike after eight days, along with Nguyen Bac Truyen and Pham Van Diep. more

November 23, 2020

Hoang Duc Binh’s family was denied a visit with him again at An Diem Prison, allegedly due to Binh’s refusal to wear a prison uniform, as he insists that he is not a criminal. The same thing happened the previous month. more

November 23, 2020

Four activists were transferred to An Phuoc Prison in Binh Duong. They are: Do The Hoa, Tran Thanh Phuong, Hoang Thi Thu Vang, and Doan Thi Hong. Phuong was able to call his wife on that day, and he reported that he is suffering from high blood pressure. more

November 23, 2020

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc started a hunger strike to protest the authorities’ failure to respond to his petition for a reduction of his sentence based on changes to the 2015 Criminal Code.

November 20, 2020

Three political prisoners started a hunger strike at An Diem Prison protesting prison conditions. more

November 18, 2020

Truong Duy Nhat was transferred to Prison No. 3 in Nghe An Province, where he was confined to a small cell and suffering from health issues.

November, 2020

Pham Chi Thanh was reportedly moved to the Central Institute of Forensic Psychiatry for a mental health evaluation despite having no history of mental illness. more

November, 2020

Huynh Duc Thinh suffered a brain hemorrhage just a few weeks before finishing his prison sentence and was transferred to a hospital. more

October 21, 2020

US citizen Michael Phuong Minh Nguyen was released from prison early and returned to the United States

October 8, 2020

Political prisoner Tran Huynh Duy Thuc told his family that he had begun a hunger strike for the last three days to demand that the High Court review his request to have his sentence reduced based on changes in the Penal Code of 2015. more

October 4, 2020

Political prisoner Le Dinh Luong reported that would go on a hunger strike starting on October 11 to demand improved prison conditions. more

September, 2020

Authorities transferred Nguyen Duc Quoc Vuong from Trai Mat prison, Lam Dong Province, to An Phuoc detention center in Binh Duong Province, without prior notice and more than 300 km from his family’s home. more

August, 2020

Trinh Ba Tu started hunger strike at Cham Mat Detention Center in Hoa Binh to protest against mistreatment in prison more

July 16, 2020

A blogger reported that hospital staff beat and fastened Le Anh Hung to a chair before forcibly injecting him with medication. more

July 12, 2020

Political prisoner Nguyen Van Tuc’s wife tried to visit him but was unable to due to the prison’s restrictive policies. more

June 22, 2020

The police told attorney Nguyen Van Mieng that Khoa had waived his right to an attorney. Khoa’s wife was confused because he had asked her to hire Nguyen Van Mieng. more

June 18, 2020

A Lam Dong court granted permission for Nguyen Duc Quoc Vuong‘s family to visit him, so Vuong’s older brother and the attorney went, but the prison didn’t allow them to see Vuong. more

June 12, 2020

Nguyen Van Mieng, Nguyen Duc Quoc Vuong’s attorney, went to Trai Mat prison, Lam Dong Province, to have his first meeting with Vuong since his September 2019 arrest. more

June, 2020

Neither his family nor the Australian government had contact with jailed Australian retiree Chau Van Kham in over four months, despite him suffering from multiple health ailments. more

June, 2020

Nguyen Van Duc Do’s family has filed a petition against the notorious Xuan Loc Prison after Do was tortured in prison for asking for time outside in the sun on weekends. more

June, 2020

Almost five months after the raid on Dong Tam Commune, those arrested were still being denied visits from their families. more

May 14, 2020

Ngo Van Dung’s attorney visited him at the Chi Hoa Detention Center. Dung’s wife reported that he had been brutally tortured by prison officials and had to be hospitalized. more

May 11, 2020

Le Thanh Tung’s reported that Tung and other prisoners were enduring 100-degree temperatures in their cells at Nam Ha Prison. Tung was also denied medication and letters. more

May 8, 2020

Nguyen Ngoc Anh called his wife and told her that the running water is heavily contaminated; the prisoners protested this but were threatened with retaliation. more

May, 2020

Prison officials in Xuan Loc Prison Camp in Dong Nai Province beat six political prisoners after they petitioned to be able to work outside more frequently during the weekends. The six were also placed in solitary confinement. more

April, 2020

Luu Van Vinh reported that due to COVID-19, families were not allowed to visit, so in the prison camp, many people were in need of everything; Vinh himself was in isolation. more

March 17, 2020

Phan Van Thu continued to suffer from multiple health ailments and a restrictive visit and supply policy, made worse by COVID-19. more

March 3, 2020

Nguyen Nang Tinh was on hunger strike before this trial more

March 2, 2020

Nguyen Van Tuc's health worsened and he had not received proper medical treatment from the prison. more

March, 2020

The investigating agency extended the pre-trial detention period of Nguyen Van Nghiem for another three months.

March, 2020

Prison authorities again increased Le Anh Hung’s anti-psychotic medication against his wishes. more

February 28, 2020

Y Ngun Knul was in critical health and suffering severe kidney failure, gastritis, foot issues, and high blood pressure after his release from prison. more

February 21, 2020

The People’s Court of Khanh Hoa Province denied Tran Vu Hai and his wife Ngo Tuyet Phuong’s appeal of their one-year house arrest sentences for tax evasion. more

February 18, 2020

Luu Van Vinh was moved to another cell block, allegedly because he opposed the way they treated his daily diet. more

February 2, 2020

Prison officials were checking the contents of Hoang Duc Binh's letters before sending them and even interrogating him about the contents of the letters. more

February, 2020

Vo Thuong Trung was transferred to Gia Trung prison in Gia Lai province without prior notice to his family. more

January 9, 2020

Authorities temporarily suspended the prison sentence of political prisoner Ngo Hao so that he can receive medical treatment. more

January 7, 2020

Nguyen Viet Dung had been barred from buying food at the prison canteen and suffering from poor nutritional variety. more

January, 2020

Phan Kim Khanh was in solitary confinement, allegedly for "rebelling" in prison, and unable to access the prison cafeteria. more

January, 2020

Authorities transferred political prisoner Nguyen Ngoc Anh to a new prison without notifying his family in advance. more

January, 2020

Prison officials were denying Vuong Van Tha food because he refused to wear a prison uniform and to sign a confession of guilt.

January, 2020

Nguyen Viet Dung was in solitary confinement for allegedly rebelling against the prison administration and refusing to work. more

January, 2020

Prison management finally permitted Tran Thi Xuan to be treated in a specialized hospital after she fainted multiple times in 2019.

January, 2020

Prison management finally permitted Tran Thi Xuan to be treated in a specialized hospital after she fainted multiple times in 2019.

January, 2020

Prison officials refused Chuong Hoang Chuong items for personal use, such as his glasses, medicines, a toothbrush, and new clothes. more

September 22, 2019

Nguyen Van Dien started a hunger strike to protest maltreatment of prisoners. more

September 20, 2019

Nguyen Thi Hue, sister of political prisoner Nguyen Van Hoa, reported that prison authorities threatened Hoa that they would cut the tendons in his legs back in July 2019 while he was in solitary confinement. more

September 17, 2019

Prison authorities barred Le Dinh Luong‘s family from visiting with him, even though it was the normal visiting time. more

September 14, 2019

Nguyen Van Hoa was released from solitary confinement on September 14, 2019 after four months. more

September 6, 2019

Nguyen Ngoc Anh's wife reported that Anh has had difficulties with his cellmates, who are believed to be encouraged to mistreat him in order for reduced sentences and other lenience. more

September 4, 2019

Doan Thi Hong's sister reported on Hong's poor health in prison. more

September 4, 2019

The daughter of political prisoner Ngo Van Dung met with him for the first time since his arrest. more

August 28, 2019

Lawyer Ngo Anh Tuan met with detained blogger Truong Duy Nhat for the first time since Nhat’s abduction from Thailand in January 2019 and subsequent arrest in Vietnam. more

August 28, 2019

Nguyen Van Tuc's wife reported he was in very poor health and had requested to be transferred away from a cellmate who was harassing him. more

August 9, 2019

Le Dinh Luong's niece was prohibited from visiting him in prison

August 2, 2019

Truong Minh Duc's family visit was shortened and modified after Duc ended his hunger strike

August, 2019

Vuong Van Tha’s family shared with The 88 Project that they had not been able to see him or send him any supplies for over seven months.

July 25, 2019

Ho Duc Hoa wrote a letter home revealing his severe healthcare issues in prison. more

July 21, 2019

Political prisoners ended their hunger strike in Nghe An province after 41 days more

July 20, 2019

Luu Van Vinh's family was denied a visit with him for the third time. more

July 3, 2019

Tran Huynh Duy Thuc released solitary confinement at Prison No. 6 in Nghe An province. more

June 12, 2019

Political prisoners began a hunger strike in Prison No. 6 Nghe An province to protest prison conditions during heat wave. more

June 1, 2019

Tran Hoang Phuc‘s family send a petition against Phuc's mistreatment, campaigning to hold prison authorities accountable. more

May 31, 2019

Luu Van Vinh notified his family that he was transferred to Gia Trung prison in Gia Lai province, his fourth prison in 30 months. more

May 13, 2019

Hoang Duc Binh, held in An Diem Detention Center, the same place as Nguyen Van Hoa, called his family and revealed that detention officers gripped Hoa’s neck and beat him harshly.. more

April 1, 2019

Prison authorities suddenly transferred Le Anh Hung to the Central Mental Hospital in Ha Noi. more

February 23, 2019

Tran Hoang Phuc begins 12-day hunger strike to protest abuses against him in prison. more

February 10, 2019

Phan Kim Khanh‘s family and fellow activists visited him and reported that he was in good health and spirits but still trying to appeal his sentence.

January 29, 2019

Le Anh Hung was denied a visit with his family because he refused to wear a prisoner uniform and handcuffs. more

January 25, 2019

Authorities transferred Nguyen Trung Truc from Quang Binh to Thanh Hoa Province, without notifying his family. more

January 7, 2019

Hoang Duc Binh was in poor health in prison, with rashes, back pain, and diminished eyesight from a lack of light. more

January 5, 2019

Tran Hoang Phuc’s family visited him and said that he was in good health and spirits; however, Phuc revealed that he had been harassed by other prisoners since his first instance trial. more

January 4, 2019

Phan Kim Khanh's family visited him in prison and reported he was in good health and spirits; prison officials allowed him to receive some supplies but denied others. more

January, 2019

The authorities told Nguyen Hong Nguyen‘s family that he was transferred to prison Z30D, Ham Tan, Binh Thuan Province, but he was transferred to Xuan Loc prison in Dong Nai Province. more

January, 2019

Ngo Hao, 75, had a stroke in prison, and the authorities failed to notify his family. more