Vietnam’s Closing Legal Space for Civil Society

Taken as a whole, Vietnam’s moves in recent years have put increasing pressure on civil society and civic space, usually using regulatory means but occasionally using criminal prosecutions. Resistance  has been somewhat muted, understandably, due to fear of becoming the next victim. Vietnam’s closing civic space may fall under the radar compared to its larger neighbors China and India, but the trend is similar and ominous.

Writing for the U.S.-Asia Law Institute, Mark Sidel provides an overview of how the space for civil society in Vietnam has seen intensification of restrictions. While it has evaded mainstream attention, recent laws passed in Vietnam limit activities of different groups such as social services NGOs and philanthropic groups, and at the same time arrests have intensified against these groups’ leaders on grounds of anti-state propaganda and tax evasion.

These decrees impact both international groups as well as domestic associations. A newly drafted “Law on Associations” would strengthen the Party’s role in managing local organizations and lengthen the list of restricted political activities off limits to public groups.

While these moves may be falling under the international radar, they are worth noting and seem to follow a similar regional trend towards weakening civil society and expanding government-led organization.