Vietnam currently regulates access to the
Internet extensively, both in the management of
Internet infrastructure as well as by restricting
access to country- and language-specific
content.
Background
Now a member of the World Trade Organization
(WTO), the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is
attempting simultaneously to promote the development of information communications technology (ICT) and e-commerce while struggling to
limit access to content that might destabilize the
communist state and undermine its control.
Although citizens are legally allowed to question
corruption, economic policy, and government
deficiencies, the line is drawn at political criticism
involving government leaders, political parties
and multiparty democracy, and sensitive social
and diplomatic issues. After a period of relative
openness and tolerance of independent voices
and criticism in 2006, where liberal publications
were established, the government clamped
down on what it considers unlawful usage of the
Internet. Authorities continue to detain a number
of individuals for Internet activities, such as discussing political reform over Voice-over Internet
Protocol (VoIP). 1
Internet in Vietnam
Vietnam’s Internet system is growing and changing rapidly, and it is difficult to describe the situation “on the ground” with complete accuracy.
From 2005 to 2006, the number of Internet users
reportedly jumped from 9.2 million to 14.5 million,
yielding an Internet penetration rate of 17 percent. 2 Because more than half of the population
is under thirty and a significant portion of individual users use cybercafés for online gaming and
access to the Internet, control over these venues
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
No evidence
Suspected
Selective
Substantial
Pervasive
Filtering
of filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
Political
●
Social
●
Conflict/security
●
Internet tools
●
Other factors
Low
Medium
High
Not applicable
Transparency
●
Consistency
●
Vietnam
Internet extensively, both in the management of
Internet infrastructure as well as by restricting
access to country- and language-specific
content.
Background
Now a member of the World Trade Organization
(WTO), the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is
attempting simultaneously to promote the development of information communications technology (ICT) and e-commerce while struggling to
limit access to content that might destabilize the
communist state and undermine its control.
Although citizens are legally allowed to question
corruption, economic policy, and government
deficiencies, the line is drawn at political criticism
involving government leaders, political parties
and multiparty democracy, and sensitive social
and diplomatic issues. After a period of relative
openness and tolerance of independent voices
and criticism in 2006, where liberal publications
were established, the government clamped
down on what it considers unlawful usage of the
Internet. Authorities continue to detain a number
of individuals for Internet activities, such as discussing political reform over Voice-over Internet
Protocol (VoIP). 1
Internet in Vietnam
Vietnam’s Internet system is growing and changing rapidly, and it is difficult to describe the situation “on the ground” with complete accuracy.
From 2005 to 2006, the number of Internet users
reportedly jumped from 9.2 million to 14.5 million,
yielding an Internet penetration rate of 17 percent. 2 Because more than half of the population
is under thirty and a significant portion of individual users use cybercafés for online gaming and
access to the Internet, control over these venues
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
No evidence
Suspected
Selective
Substantial
Pervasive
Filtering
of filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
filtering
Political
●
Social
●
Conflict/security
●
Internet tools
●
Other factors
Low
Medium
High
Not applicable
Transparency
●
Consistency
●
Vietnam