New wave of arrests in Vietnam

Pro-democracy group says Vietnam increases suppression against its members, eight activists in custody

 

 

Defend the Defenders | June 29, 2026 

 

The Rally for Democracy and Pluralism, a group of Vietnamese activists working to promote multi-party democracy and human rights in the Southeast Asian nation, became the main target of the on-going political suppression of the one-party regime in Hanoi. 

According to the group which has hundreds of members in Vietnam and abroad, eight members have been arrested since late 2024 when To Lam started to consolidate his power before being the party leader with the absolute power in many recent decades in Vietnam which is ruled by communists in the northern region from mid-20’s century and the whole country from 1975. 

The Rally for Democracy and Pluralism is a group the leadership of which is based in foreign countries, including President Nguyen Gia Kieng in France. However, the number of young members in the country is growing and the group’s rising popularity has threatened the political monopoly of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam. 

After demolishing the Brotherhood for Democracy in 20172018 and imprisoned dozens of its key members with lengthy imprisonment of up to 15 years in prison, the communist regime targets other individuals and the growing development of the Rally for Democracy and Pluralism has angered the communist leaders most of them are senior security officials. 

The first victim of the suppression against the group is young activist Tran Khac Duc, 31. He was arrested on November 9, 2024 and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. After one year being kept incommunicado, on November 21, 2025, he was taken to the first-instance hearing without legal assistance and presence of relatives. He was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison. The appeal heading was held on March 27 this year, also without lawyers, his sentence was upheld. His family knew about the two hearings after visiting him in prison only. 

The second activist who got arrested was Quach Gia Khang. He was detained on March 18, 2025 and still being kept in pre-trial detention without rights to meet with legal assistance and relatives. The 29-year-old democracy campaigner is charged with subversion according to Article 109 of the Criminal Code with imprisonment of between 12 years and life imprisonment. 

A half year later, on October 10, 2025, the third member was arrested. Mr. Nguyen Duy Niem, 58, is a former member of the ruling communist party and ex-manager of a state-owned firm. He is also charged with allegation according to Article 117. 

So far this year, Vietnam’s security forces have detained five members of the group named Chu Tuan Anh, Nguyen Thanh Tien, Tran Van Khanh, Dinh Thanh Tung and Nguyen Huu Binh. Anh was kidnapped on January 25 by Vietnam’s security agents in Laos where he was working legally while Binh was detained on May 25. Other three were arrested on April 1. It is unclear what allegation they are charged with. 

In its statement released on June 27, the group said its imprisoned members are innocent as “They only express the view of the Rally for Democracy and Pluralism, according to which Marxism-Leninism is both false and harmful; the 30-year civil war from 1945 to 1975, which the Communist Party boasts about and is proud of, was a terrible disaster for the country; the massacres of members of nationalist parties after the August 1945 Revolution and the Land Reform were major crimes; following China’s example is a mistake born of superficiality…” 

Vietnam’s security forces have targeted not only political groups but also young people who once took part in civil movements but are now focusing on working to meet two ends. In August 2025, they arrested Ho Sy Quyet, Tran Quang Trung, Tran Quang Nam, and Nguyen Tuan Nghia and accused them of “conducting activities to overthrow the government” under Article 109. 

They have been kept incommunicado and their families have not been informed about their fate. 

Vietnam has imprisoned at least 265 prisoners of conscience, according to the latest statistics of Defend the Defenders. Dozens of them have been kept incommunicado in lengthy pre-trial detention which may last years. 

 

 

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