As to be expected with a communist regime, it is no secret that the Vietnamese government restricts many basic civil and political human rights. Despite the inaccurate depiction of its human right records painted by Vietnam at the Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Vietnamese human rights are largely under threat. Over the last decade, although Vietnam has become a less repressive society, human rights in Vietnam have seen little improvement and continue to be significantly restricted. Freedoms that comply with the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, of which Vietnam, a UN member state, is subject to, such as the rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly, and the right to freely practice beliefs and religion are frequently violated by the Vietnamese government. In spite of the minor improvements seen in recent years, the end of the decade saw a surge in prisoners of conscience – political or religious prisoners- so it is clear that human rights will continue to be a serious problem in Vietnam.
Control of media is integral to the Communist government of Vietnam. According to the 2018 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Vietnam ranks 175 out of 180 countries. The most recent Vietnamese Constitution states that "The citizen shall enjoy the right to freedom of opinion and speech, freedom of the press, of access to information, to assemble, form associations and hold demonstrations. The practice of these rights shall be covered by the law." However, whilst there is legal recognition of these freedoms, in reality, they are rarely acted upon. Censorship of the media is part of the everyday life of a Vietnamese person. According to BBC, there are only 8 news outlets, all of which are state run. Internet censorship in Vietnam prevents citizens from accessing website that criticize the Vietnamese government in any way which includes international human rights organisations. Content from Youtube, Google and Facebook are severely restricted. The so called ‘online police’ blocks ‘politically sensitive’ websites and are said to monitor online activity. In recent years, activist bloggers have caused the Vietnamese government strife, with at least 14 people put on trial in 2019 and sentenced to prison for “making, storing, disseminating or propagandizing information, materials and products that aim to oppose the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.” Those who are not in prison ‘face regular harassment and intimidation’ according to the Human Rights Watch.
Furthermore, in January of 2019, Vietnam enforced a new cybersecurity law that was deemed controversial by many. This new law vaguely described the government’s intentions to regulate data processing by technology companies and restrict the Internet connection of users who post ‘prohibited’ content. In short; it gives the government more discretion to censor free expression and tighten their grip on internet censorship.
Although censorship is a main way in which the Vietnamese government attempt to control their citizens, many other human rights are violated in order to maintain control. Criticism of the one-party regime is strictly prohibited in Vietnam and those guilty could face police intimidation, assault, detention, imprisonment for example. When put in custody, detainees can go for months without access to legal counsel and conditions in detention centres are less than ideal. In 2019, according to data from Radio Free Asia, at least 11 people died in custody with no investigation into these deaths nor an explanation. Enforced disappearances of political opponents are also not uncommon in Vietnam.
Lastly, as with many communist regimes, despite religion being permitted in Vietnam, religious groups are constantly persecuted. Approval from the government and registration is required from all religious groups and they only operate under government-controlled management boards. Whilst there may be churches and Buddhist temples, they are primarily for show and to keep up appearances for tourists. Like many, those who identify within a particular religious group are subject to public criticism, harassment, imprisonment, constant surveillance, renunciation of their faith and in more extreme cases; torture and detention.
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