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Vietnam’s state-controlled media regularly employs sophisticated tactics to manipulate information on politically sensitive issues, with exiled journalists and overseas news outlets increasingly critical in revealing the full picture behind censored stories.
A notable example occurred in August 2023, when a seven-year-old child from an affluent Hanoi neighborhood was kidnapped for a ransom of 15 billion VND (approximately $638,297). Though authorities apprehended the kidnapper within 24 hours, the aftermath revealed telling inconsistencies in official reporting.
Nguyễn Thanh Tùng, Deputy Director of Hanoi Police, publicly characterized the suspect as an “unemployed loafer” who had turned to blackmail out of desperation. This characterization appeared designed to protect the police’s institutional reputation, as several state-run news outlets had initially reported that the kidnapper was actually a debt-ridden police officer – information they quickly deleted from their publications.
Radio Free Asia, frequently blocked in Vietnam and labeled as “reactionary” by authorities, documented how these reports were systematically removed or altered. Screenshots of the original articles began circulating on social media, highlighting the discrepancies between official statements and earlier coverage.
This kidnapping case represents a rare instance where government attempts at information control faltered. In Vietnam, ranked 173rd out of 180 countries by Reporters Without Borders in 2025, state-imposed disinformation typically involves a complex strategy: distorting facts, omitting key events, deploying state-affiliated journalists to spread misleading information, and systematically defaming independent voices.
“Exiled journalists have played a crucial role in adding value to what cannot be done by internal media,” explains Nop Vy, Executive Director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association. “On sensitive topics such as corruption and scams, local media are often more concerned about their safety, security, and censorship in their reporting.”
The Communist Party of Vietnam’s control over information is particularly evident in its handling of embarrassing incidents involving government officials. When Hoàng Xuân Chiến, Deputy Minister of Defence, faced sexual harassment allegations during a diplomatic meeting in Seoul last September, Vietnam’s major state media outlets provided little to no coverage. Similar silence surrounded alleged sexual misconduct by President Lương Cường’s bodyguard in November 2024 and reports involving two Vietnamese officials in New Zealand in March 2024.
Vietnam’s media censorship operates through both explicit and implicit mechanisms. While there’s no formal top-down ban on covering foreign elections, journalists face potential penalties for publishing content deemed too politically sensitive. The 2019 National Press Plan restricts news production, especially political news, to outlets under state agency supervision. Editors-in-chief must be Party members, and the ultimate editorial authority rests with the Head of the Central Department of Propaganda of the Communist Party.
More liberal outlets based in Ho Chi Minh City, like Tuổi Trẻ and Thanh Niên, occasionally test boundaries but have faced suspensions and financial penalties for publishing content the Party considered inappropriate. Independent outlets face even harsher treatment. Tiếng Dân, a Vietnamese-language publication based in the United States, has been completely firewalled in Vietnam since its 2017 founding.
“Vietnamese writers living inside Vietnam do not openly take credit for their work,” notes Thu Đinh, Managing Editor of Tiếng Dân, highlighting the risks domestic journalists face when contributing to international publications.
State media also participates directly in propaganda production. Dr. Thi Thanh Phuong Nguyen Pochan, associate professor at the Université Catholique de l’Ouest, has documented the Vietnamese government’s use of televised confessions to humiliate dissidents. Her 2021 study revealed a consistent pattern in these broadcasts: denial of regime criticism, self-denunciation, and praise for the Party-state.
Former prisoner of conscience Trần Huỳnh Duy Thức exemplifies this practice. Arrested in 2009 and eventually sentenced to 16 years for “attempting to overthrow the people’s administration,” Thức was featured in a confession video before his trial despite never admitting guilt. His co-defendant, lawyer Lê Công Định, later revealed to the BBC that these confessions were coerced, scripted, and edited for propaganda purposes.
Independent journalists face particularly severe consequences. Phạm Chí Dũng, founder of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vietnam, received a 15-year prison sentence in 2019. Former prisoner of conscience Phạm Thanh Nghiên, who was sentenced to four years in jail for her human rights activism, has experienced persistent digital harassment even after leaving Vietnam for the United States in 2023.
Despite creating platforms to document state abuses that go unreported in national media, Nghiên has seen her Facebook page blocked and YouTube channel reported for community standards violations. Nevertheless, she remains undeterred: “We believe that Facebook and YouTube will have to return the page to us because we have not done anything wrong.”
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20 Comments
This report highlights the worrying trend of state-controlled media in Vietnam employing disinformation tactics to manipulate information. The role of exiled journalists in exposing the full truth behind censored stories is commendable.
The inconsistencies in official reporting on the kidnapping case are quite troubling. It’s clear that the authorities are trying to control the narrative for institutional reputation, which is deeply concerning.
The use of sophisticated disinformation tactics by Vietnam’s state media is troubling. Exiled journalists bravely working to reveal the truth deserve recognition for their efforts to hold the government accountable.
I agree, the ability of exiled journalists to document the removal and alteration of sensitive reports is crucial. It’s vital that uncensored information reaches the public.
This report sheds light on the challenges facing independent journalism in Vietnam. The state’s use of disinformation tactics to control the narrative and protect institutional reputations is alarming. Kudos to the exiled journalists working to expose the truth.
The inconsistencies in official reporting on the kidnapping case are quite telling. It’s important that we have access to independent sources of information to understand the full context behind these events.
This report highlights the challenges faced by independent media in Vietnam. The systematic removal and alteration of articles by state-run outlets is a concerning tactic to control the narrative. Kudos to the exiled journalists exposing these propaganda efforts.
Absolutely, the attempts to portray the kidnapper in a certain light to protect the police’s reputation is a clear example of Vietnam’s disinformation tactics. Transparency and accountability are sorely needed.
The Vietnamese government’s use of sophisticated disinformation tactics to censor and manipulate information is deeply concerning. Exiled journalists deserve praise for their efforts to reveal the truth and hold the authorities accountable.
I agree, the systematic removal and alteration of sensitive reports by state-run outlets is a clear attempt to suppress independent information. It’s crucial that the public has access to uncensored sources.
The Vietnamese government’s use of sophisticated disinformation tactics to manipulate information on politically sensitive issues is deeply troubling. Exiled journalists play a vital role in revealing the full truth behind censored stories.
I’m glad to see that outlets like Radio Free Asia, often blocked in Vietnam, are able to document the systematic removal and alteration of reports. This is an important counterweight to state propaganda.
The Vietnamese government’s use of sophisticated disinformation tactics is deeply concerning. Exiled journalists play a vital role in revealing the truth behind censored stories and holding the authorities accountable. Their efforts deserve recognition.
I agree, the ability of outlets like Radio Free Asia to document the systematic removal and alteration of reports is crucial. It’s important that the public has access to independent sources of information.
The Vietnamese government’s employment of sophisticated disinformation tactics to manipulate information on politically sensitive issues is deeply troubling. Exiled journalists play a vital role in revealing the full truth behind censored stories.
I’m glad to see that outlets like Radio Free Asia, often blocked in Vietnam, are able to document the systematic removal and alteration of reports. This independent documentation is crucial in countering state propaganda.
This report sheds light on the challenges facing independent journalism in Vietnam. The state’s efforts to control the narrative and protect institutional reputations through disinformation tactics are alarming. Kudos to the exiled journalists working to expose the truth.
The inconsistencies in official reporting on the kidnapping case are quite telling. It’s crucial that we have access to uncensored information to understand the full picture behind these events.
This is a concerning report on Vietnam’s propaganda tactics. Exiled journalists play a critical role in exposing the full truth behind censored stories. It’s disturbing to see authorities try to control the narrative for institutional reputation.
Yes, the inconsistencies in official reporting on the kidnapping case are quite telling. It’s important to have independent media sources to counter state-controlled narratives.