Vietnam Jails Leading Journalist Over Facebook Posts

HANOI, 27 February 2025 (BSS/AFP) – A Vietnamese court on Thursday sentenced a prominent independent journalist to 30 months in prison over Facebook posts that criticised the government, according to state media.

Huy Duc, a veteran journalist who once worked for major state-run newspapers, gained prominence through his widely followed blog and Facebook account, where he openly criticised Vietnam’s Communist leadership on issues such as corruption, press restrictions, and foreign relations, particularly with China.

The court in Hanoi found the 63-year-old guilty of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state” after he posted 13 articles on Facebook, reported the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

During the trial, which lasted only a few hours, Huy Duc stated that he did not intend to oppose the Communist Party or the state. However, he admitted that some of his content may have violated state interests, for which he expressed regret, according to VNA.

The indictment cited by state media claimed that his posts attracted significant engagement, with high levels of interactions, comments, and shares, which allegedly contributed to “negative impacts on social order and safety.”

Shortly before his arrest in June last year, Huy Duc—who writes under a pen name—had been critical of Vietnam’s most powerful leader, To Lam, as well as his predecessor, Nguyen Phu Trong. It remains unclear whether his charges were directly related to those particular posts.

Crackdown on Dissent and Press Freedom

Vietnam, a one-party state, maintains strict control over the media and frequently cracks down on dissent. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the country is among the world’s most repressive environments for journalists, with independent reporting facing severe restrictions.

The trial comes just months after blogger Duong Van Thai—who had nearly 120,000 YouTube followers—was sentenced to 12 years in prison for spreading so-called “anti-state” information. In January, another outspoken former lawyer received a three-year sentence over critical Facebook posts.

Huy Duc, whose real name is Truong Huy San, previously served as a senior army lieutenant. His career in state media ended in 2009 after he criticised the Soviet Union, Vietnam’s former Communist ally.

In 2012, he spent a year at Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow. During this time, his book The Winning Side was published, offering an account of life in Vietnam following the war with the United States. RSF has described his articles as “an invaluable source of information,” helping Vietnamese citizens access news censored by the state.

Tighter Internet Controls

In recent years, Vietnamese authorities have intensified their crackdown on online expression. In December, the government implemented Decree 147, which compels tech giants such as Facebook and TikTok to verify user identities and hand over data to authorities. Under these regulations, all accounts must be linked to verified phone numbers or Vietnamese identification documents, further tightening state control over digital spaces.

Despite the risks, Huy Duc remained vocal about government repression. Just a month before his arrest, he posted on Facebook: “No country can develop sustainably based on fear.”