Vietnamese Authorities Crack Down on Online Dissent Ahead of Party Congress

Facebooker Hoàng Thị Hồng Thái Arrested Under Article 117

 

The Vietnamese Magazine | 2026.01.12

In the run-up to the Communist Party of Vietnam’s 14th National Congress, domestic law enforcement agencies have stepped up actions against individuals on social media who share or promote what officials label as “reactionary” or “anti-state” content. 

These moves come as broader efforts to control online discourse and manage narratives ahead of the major political gathering scheduled for later this month. 

According to Luật Khoa Magazine and local enforcement sources, multiple social media account holders have faced administrative sanctions or police action for reposting articles, videos, and other materials from foreign-based outlets and figures deemed hostile to the state. 

In Cao Bằng Province, police on Jan. 6 cited an elderly woman, identified only by her initials, for sharing dozens of posts considered fabricated or misleading that originated from sites linked to German-based thoibao.de (an online magazine in Vietnamese) and controversial commentator Lê Trung Khoa. 

Authorities warned citizens against aiding the dissemination of such information and stressed that similar behavior would incur legal consequences. 

Other local responses include an administrative fine of 7.5 million dồng ($285) issued by the Tây Ninh provincial cyber police to an individual who repeatedly shared content from Lê Trung Khoa’s social media that the government alleged distorted facts and damaged the reputation of state bodies and officials. 

These developments unfold against a backdrop of recent high-profile prosecutions linked to “anti-state propaganda.” Lê Trung Khoa himself was convicted on Dec. 31, 2025, in absentia and sentenced to 17 years in prison under Article 117 of the 2015 Penal Code for producing and disseminating material considered hostile to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. 

Recently, authorities have also targeted others connected to related online networks. 

In a separate but related case, Hanoi authorities arrested and charged Facebook user Hoàng Thị Hồng Thái under Article 117 for “making, storing, disseminating, or propagating information, documents, or items aimed at opposing the state.” 

The Criminal Investigation Department of the Hà Nội Police executed the arrest and obtained a temporary detention order on Jan. 7 after prosecutorial approval, marking a decisive enforcement action against alleged anti-state activity online. 

Multiple Vietnamese news outlets report that Hồng Thái, described as a well-known Facebook user, is accused of disseminating content that authorities believe undermines the legitimacy of the state. 

While law enforcement agencies have not publicly detailed the specific posts that triggered the charges, prosecutors maintain the case is being pursued in accordance with the law and that the investigation continues. 

Critics of Việt Nam’s strict information control argue that such legal provisions can be applied broadly to stifle dissent and restrict freedom of expression, particularly in politically sensitive periods. 

Supporters of the crackdown counter that robust enforcement is essential to maintain social stability and guard against foreign or domestic efforts to disrupt national harmony, especially during significant events like the Party Congress.

As authorities emphasize vigilance against “misleading and harmful” content, citizens are being urged to exercise caution online and to verify information sources to avoid legal trouble. The unfolding cases illustrate how digital expression is increasingly subject to legal scrutiny amid major political