Jailed Land Rights Activist Faces New Charges for Anti-State Notes in Prison

The Vietnamese Magazine -

Key Events

  • Vietnamese Activist Trịnh Bá Phương Faces New Charges for Prison Protest with Anti-Communist Slogan
  • RSF Calls on U.S. to Press Vietnam for Phạm Đoan Trang’s Immediate Release
  • Sweeping Political Restructuring: Party to Appoint Provincial Leaders Under Draft Amendments
  • Vietnam’s Export Boom Faces U.S. Scrutiny Over Alleged Chinese Transshipment

On May 7, 2025, Radio Free Asia - Vietnamese reported that land rights activist Trịnh Bá Phương has been charged with a new offense under Article 117 of the Penal Code for conducting "propaganda against the state." This new charge stems from slogans he wrote while incarcerated at An Điềm Prison in Quảng Nam Province.

Phương, who was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2021 on similar charges, allegedly wrote phrases such as "Down with Communism" on paper that he kept in his cell at An Điềm Prison.

His wife, Đỗ Thị Thu, provided further details to RFA-Vietnamese. According to the investigator in that prison, in November 2024, Phuong possessed documents and banners deemed to be against the State. As a result, An Điềm Prison forwarded the materials to the Quảng Nam provincial security agency for investigation. On April 8, 2025, provincial authorities officially indicted Phuong under Clause 1, Article 117 of the Penal Code."

The documents and banners Thu referred to were written by Phương while in detention at An Điềm Prison and were later kept by him in his cell.

Legal experts, including human rights attorney Đặng Đình Mạnh, argue that this case sets a concerning precedent. Mạnh noted that while suppression of political prisoners is not uncommon in Vietnam, initiating criminal proceedings based on expressions made within prison confines is unprecedented. He further contended that Article 117 pertains to actions against the state, not political parties, and thus should not apply to criticisms of the Communist Party.

Phương’s family is known for their activism against land seizures in Dương Nội, Hà Nội. Phương's mother, Cấn Thị Thêu, and brother, Trịnh Bá Tư, are each serving eight-year sentences on similar charges.

RSF Urges U.S. Secretary of State to Advocate for the Release of Vietnamese Journalist

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Vietnamese journalist Pham Doan Trang ahead of Vietnam Human Rights Day in the United States.

Pham Doan Trang, a prominent journalist and pro-democracy advocate, was arrested in October 2020 and sentenced to nine years in prison in December 2021 on charges of disseminating "anti-state propaganda." RSF has condemned her sentencing as an attempt to silence independent journalism in Vietnam.

RSF emphasizes that Trang's imprisonment reflects a broader crackdown on press freedom in Vietnam, which ranks 175th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2021 World Press Freedom Index. The organization urges the international community to impose targeted sanctions on Vietnamese officials responsible for her detention.

Beyond the U.S., Vietnamese diaspora communities in countries like Australia, Canada, and France held their own memorials, underscoring the global impact of the Vietnam War and the shared history of displacement and resilience.

The appeal to Secretary Rubio seeks to leverage diplomatic channels to advocate for Trang's immediate and unconditional release, highlighting the importance of press freedom and human rights in U.S.-Vietnam relations.

Vietnam Proposes Sweeping Constitutional Changes: Provincial Leaders to Be Appointed, Not Elected

Luật Khoa Magazine reported that on May 5, Vietnam’s National Assembly convened the 9th session of its 15th term in Hanoi, with a major focus on amending the 2013 Constitution.

The session, which spans two phases—May 5 to 29 and June 11 to 30—is expected to last 37 working days. A key outcome of the opening day was the establishment of a Constitutional Amendment Drafting Committee led by National Assembly Chairperson Trần Thanh Mẫn.

The proposed changes, introduced by Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, are framed as urgent measures to streamline and restructure the state apparatus. He also hinted at a more fundamental constitutional overhaul in the next term.

On May 6, the Drafting Committee released a proposed resolution to solicit public input on the proposal. The draft outlines amendments to eight articles, primarily in three chapters: political system (Articles 9 and 10), National Assembly (Article 84), and local government (Articles 110, 111, 112, 114, and 115).

One of the most controversial proposals involves replacing the electoral process for key provincial and municipal leadership roles with a system of top-down appointments. 

Under the draft:

  • The prime minister would appoint chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees.
  • The National Assembly’s Standing Committee would appoint leaders of provincial and local People's Councils and heads of provincial-level delegations to the National Assembly.
  • Local council standing bodies would appoint officials at the commune and district levels.
  • In exceptional cases, individuals not elected deputies may still be appointed to leadership roles.

These changes are described as a temporary “special mechanism” to ensure continuity and administrative stability amid ongoing plans to merge provinces and abolish the district-level government tier. The normal electoral process is expected to resume after 2025.

A final resolution is anticipated before June 30. This follows Central Organization Commission Guideline No. 31 (issued on April 23), detailing leadership assignments post-merger, including appointments by the Politburo and the Secretariat.

Vietnam's Trade Surges Amid U.S. Crackdown on Chinese Transshipment

Vietnam's exports to the United States have reached unprecedented levels, even as U.S. authorities intensify efforts to curb illegal transshipment practices that reroute Chinese goods through Vietnam to evade tariffs. This surge underscores Vietnam's growing role in global supply chains but also raises concerns about compliance with international trade regulations.

According to recent trade data, shipments from Vietnam to the U.S. have seen significant increases, particularly in sectors like electronics, textiles, and furniture. This growth is partly attributed to companies relocating manufacturing operations from China to Vietnam to avoid U.S. tariffs imposed during ongoing trade tensions.

However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a rise in cases where Chinese products are minimally processed or repackaged in Vietnam before being exported to the U.S., a practice considered illegal transshipment. In response, CBP has implemented stricter inspection protocols and is collaborating with Vietnamese authorities to identify and prevent such violations.

Vietnamese officials have expressed a commitment to upholding fair trade practices and have increased scrutiny of export activities. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued guidelines to local businesses, emphasizing the importance of compliance with origin rules and warning against participation in fraudulent transshipment schemes.

The situation presents a dual challenge for Vietnam: capitalizing on the opportunity to expand its export markets while ensuring adherence to international trade laws. Failure to address transshipment issues could lead to punitive measures from trading partners and damage Vietnam's reputation as a reliable manufacturing hub.

Quick Takes:

Activist Bùi Tuấn Lâm Punished with Solitary Confinement Amid Ongoing Hunger Strike

On May 11, 2025, the family of Vietnamese activist Bùi Tuấn Lâm received notification from Xuân Lộc Prison that he had been subjected to 10 days of solitary confinement with leg shackles from April 30 to May 10. The prison did not disclose the reason for this disciplinary action. Lâm, known for his satirical "Onion Bae" video, has been on a hunger strike for three months, protesting the denial of prisoners' rights as stipulated by Vietnamese law. His wife alleges that prison officials have falsely accused him of misconduct and that he endured inhumane conditions during his confinement.

Vietnamese Monastics Meet Dalai Lama in Dharamsala Amid Ongoing Pilgrimage

On May 9, a group of Vietnamese Buddhist monks taking part in a pilgrimage led by Minh Tuệ, popularly known in Vietnam as the “Walking Monk,” met with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. This encounter marked a significant milestone in the participants' spiritual journey, which began in December 2024 with the aim of visiting sacred Buddhist sites.

The group started with six members and has now grown to 35 individuals, traversing seven countries over 148 days. Initially planning to walk to India, the group shifted to air travel after facing visa obstacles in Sri Lanka.

In India, the group reported instances of harassment from individuals identifying as Vietnamese patriots. Meanwhile, back in Vietnam, the authorities have disciplined Minh Tuệ's brother and restricted the travel of one volunteer.

The members of the group plan to extend their stay by renewing their visas in India.

UN Vesak 2025 Closes in Vietnam Amid India-Pakistan Tensions

On May 8, the 2025 United Nations Day of Vesak concluded at the Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City. The UN Day of Vesak is an internationally recognized day celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

The event, held from May 6–8, welcomed over 2,700 delegates from 85 countries under the theme “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development.” India’s revered Buddha relics, considered a national treasure, were airlifted and guarded like part of a presidential visit. While India’s delegation promoted peace, the message contrasted with escalating India-Pakistan tensions, as India launched airstrikes on alleged terrorist sites in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir just one day prior.

Việt Nam Insight: Learn more about Việt Nam

To Lam – The Pragmatic Leader Putting Vietnam on The Geostrategic Map

South China Morning Post/May 6

“[Tô] Lam was also believed to be behind Vietnam’s filing of an extended continental shelf claim with the United Nations in July last year, a submission made during Trong’s final days and widely seen as challenging China’s “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea.

Over the past year, Hanoi has broadened its economic and security partnerships with the United States, Japan and India, while elevating ties with Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to comprehensive strategic partnerships, the highest tier of Vietnam’s diplomatic hierarchy.

‘Despite his occasional deferential gestures, Lam is a very pragmatic leader who believes firmly in balancing cooperation with assertiveness,’ a mainland analyst said. ‘His skill in juggling major powers to counterbalance China makes him more formidable than his predecessors from Beijing’s perspective.’”