In a sweeping crackdown described by watchdogs as a “declaration of war on press freedom,” Vietnam’s parliament has passed draconian new laws that will force journalists to betray confidential sources and drastically expand what the state can classify as a secret, effectively silencing the last pockets of independent reporting.
The twin legal reforms, adopted on Wednesday, mark the most significant escalation in years in the Communist-run state’s campaign to control information. Press freedom advocates warn the changes will transform Vietnam into an “almost impossible place for journalists to report freely,” cementing its status as one of the world’s worst-ranking nations for a free press.
The Source Betrayal Clause
The core of the new assault is a revamped press law, set to take effect in July. Under the current law, journalists could only be compelled to reveal a source during investigations into “serious crimes.” The new text eliminates that critical safeguard.
Now, any journalist can be forced to disclose a source at the request of authorities investigating any crime. Furthermore, the power to issue such an order has been stripped from judges and handed directly to the Ministry of Public Security and local police—the very entities journalists often investigate.
“This amendment is granting authorities with yet another tool of repression against an already shattered media landscape,” said Aleksandra Bielakowska of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The group ranks Vietnam 173rd out of 180 countries in its press freedom index.
The Expanding Black Hole of ‘State Secrets’
In a parallel move designed to make any meaningful reporting a criminal act, legislators also passed a vastly expanded state secrets law. Effective in March, it designates a host of new categories as protected state secrets, including: Details of leaders’ overseas travel programs, Information on state compensation payouts, and the settlement of international investment disputes.
By placing these areas of significant public interest into a legal black hole, the state can prosecute any journalist who reports on government spending, diplomatic engagements, or controversial foreign deals for “disclosing state secrets”—an offense already punishable by heavy fines and lengthy prison terms.
A Broader Climate of Fear and Repression
The legal overhaul is not an isolated act. It is the culmination of an intense, months-long crackdown. Recent measures include:
The withdrawal of passports from foreign reporters, including a BBC Vietnamese journalist, the banning of a printed edition of The Economist, the temporary suspension of the Telegram messaging app, and an expanded surveillance and operational role for the public security ministry.
While domestic media are already under strict state control, foreign journalists operate under constant surveillance, face arduous trip-approval requirements, and are blocked from key events.
According to RSF, at least 28 journalists are currently imprisoned in Vietnam, often in “inhumane conditions, simply for doing their jobs.” The new laws ensure that the number will only grow.
The Vietnamese government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It never has to. With the stroke of a pen, it has legally weaponized the police against the press and defined transparency itself as a crime. The war on press freedom is no longer a metaphor in Vietnam; it is now the law of the land.
