Man handed six-year prison term for anti-State propaganda
The People's Court of Hanoi on April 12 sentenced 47-year-old Nguyen Lan Thang, a resident of Hanoi’s Dong Da district - to six years in prison for "making, storing, disseminating or propagandising information, documents, materials aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" under the Penal Code.
Nguyen Lan Thang at the time of the arrest. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –The People's Court of Hanoi on April 12 sentenced 47-year-old Nguyen Lan Thang, a resident of Hanoi’s Dong Da district - to six years in prison for "making, storing, disseminating or propagandising informati🐽on, documents,materials aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" under thePenal Code.
In addition, during thefirst-instance trial, the court also sentenced Thang to two years of probationafter serving the prison sentence. According to theindictment of the Hanoi People's Procuracy, from June 13, 2018, to December 31,2020, Thang gave interviews for various websites and had 12 video clips postedon the internet with content aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Among them, there were11 items distorting the Communist Party of Vietnam’s orientations and policies,slandering the people’s administration; eight deemed engaging inpsychological warfare, spreading false information, causing confusion among the public; and four of contents distorting, slandering, and insulting thereputation of organisations and individuals. In addition, Thang alsokept in his possession two books with contents distorting, slandering thepeople’s administration; 14 spreading false information, causingconfusion among the public; 14 propagandising psychological warfare;and 12 distorting, slandering, and insulting the reputation oforganisations and individuals./.
The High-level People's Court in Hanoi upheld sentences handed down at a first instance trial to two defendants for “making, storing, or circulating information and documents with content against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” during an appeal trial on August 17.
The High-Level People’s Court in Hanoi on August 25 opened an appeal court for defendant Pham Thi Doan Trang, born in 1978 and residing in Dong Da district of Hanoi, who was accused of "conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."
Police in the central city of Da Nang have detained and launched legal proceeding against Bui Tuan Lam, born in 1984 and residing in Hai Chau district, for the charge of “making, storing, spreading information, materials, items for the purpose of opposing the State of Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code.
Hanoi police have launched criminal proceedings against and temporarily detained a man residing in Mo Lao ward of Ha Dong district for anti-State propaganda.
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
Dr Pham Minh Hung from the University of Economics and Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the fixed-term contract mechanism is a correct step, liberating the entire system from traditional constraints which have long stood in the way of innovation.
The partnership will focus on studying and recommending LRT routes that connect the city’s transport network with urban development zones, industrial parks, and TOD areas. The research will cover Thu Dau Mot city and surrounding areas, with completion scheduled before August 15, 2025.
Media must not only serve as a channel for information but also act as a vanguard in shaping public opinion, combating misinformation, upholding the Party’s ideological principles, and reinforcing unity between Vietnam and Laos.
In Vietnam, the voluntary blood donation movement was first launched on January 24, 1994. In 2008, the Prime Minister established the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.
Currently, 20 Vietnamese citizens remain in Iran, including embassy staff and personnel. All are safe, mentally stable, and in regular contact with the embassy.
A VietnamPlus survey of 764 young people shows that 83.9% of Gen Z use smartphones to read news, only 12% use computers, and the rest access content via tablets.
GVB Startup 2025 attracted the participation of nearly 150 individuals and organisations from across Vietnam. The event seeks to promote bold and ambitious startup ideas and projects, contributing to the future of global innovation, and supporting startups through the provision of resources, networking opportunities, and market insights.
AI could not replace human judgment in verifying information and sensitive political events, and that humans remain the final gatekeepers of content, said Leonid Kovachich, head of the Asian department at Sputnik's international broadcasting division.
A veteran journalist of Argentina has praised the modern evolution of Vietnam’s press, which now serves a dual purpose: introducing Vietnam to the world while bringing global perspectives to domestic audiences.
The court announced that Quyet had submitted a written request to be tried in absentia, citing serious health issues. According to an official statement from Hospital 19/8, the defendant is suffering from multiple illnesses, experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, with doctors warning of a “very high risk of death.”
A senior Party official highlighted the VNA’s consistent role over the past eight decades, noting that it remains a mainstream, uninterrupted, timely, accurate, and authoritative source of news that helps shape public opinion, strengthen public trust, and safeguard the ideological foundation of the Party.
Dr. Kobelev, born in 1938 in Ulyanovsk, was among the first Soviet scholars to specialise in Vietnam. As a former TASS correspondent during the war in Vietnam, he worked closely with Vietnamese institutions and later helped found Russia’s Centre for Vietnamese and ASEAN Studies.
The 22 million THB (680,000 USD) hall construction is slated for completion within three years, just in time for the 2028 centennial of President Ho Chi Minh’s arrival in Thailand.
Among those receiving reduced sentences were Tran Tung, former Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, whose prison term was cut to 10 years from 12, with six years for accepting bribes and four for abusing power while performing official duties.
Nguyen Lan Thang at the time of the arrest. (Photo: VNA) 
