Vietnam: Independent Journalist Allegedly Assaulted by Police While in Detention

Last updated: 22 September 2026

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued an urgent alert on March 23, 2026 calling on Vietnamese authorities to investigate the alleged assault and arbitrary detention of independent journalist Nguyen Hoang Vi by Ho Chi Minh City police, and to hold those responsible to account. Vi was intercepted on the street by police on March 19 while taking her child to school.

What Happened

According to CPJ, Nguyen Hoang Vi was stopped by police on the street on March 19 and taken into custody. While in detention, she was allegedly assaulted by officers. CPJ states that the detention itself was arbitrary, carried out without apparent legal justification. Vi is an independent journalist known for reporting on human rights issues in Vietnam, a country where the space for independent journalism is extremely limited and where dozens of journalists and bloggers are currently imprisoned.

Vietnam's Record on Press Freedom

Vietnam consistently ranks among the world's worst jailers of journalists. The country's government exercises strict control over all major media outlets and uses vague provisions of the Penal Code — including charges of "propaganda against the state" and "abusing democratic freedoms" — to silence independent voices. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Vietnam 174th out of 180 countries in its 2025 Press Freedom Index.

The reported street interception and detention of Vi while accompanying her child reflects a pattern CPJ has documented in Vietnam: targeted harassment of journalists extends beyond professional activity to their personal lives, with the aim of creating a pervasive climate of intimidation.

Vietnamese authorities must promptly and credibly investigate the alleged assault of journalist Nguyen Hoang Vi, ensure her safety and freedom, and hold any officers responsible for unlawful conduct to account.

Committee to Protect Journalists, March 23, 2026

CPJ's Demands

CPJ is calling on Vietnamese authorities to open a full and independent investigation into the alleged assault, to ensure Nguyen Hoang Vi's physical safety and freedom from further harassment, and to guarantee that journalists in Vietnam can carry out their work without fear of arbitrary detention or violence. The case highlights the ongoing deterioration of press freedom in Southeast Asia, a region where CPJ has recorded an increase in attacks on journalists in the context of war coverage and domestic political reporting.

Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)