New Law for Digital Journalism: A turning point in Vietnam!

New Law for Digital Journalism: A turning point in Vietnam!

Hanoi, Vietnam - On May 16, 2025, a workshop on the subject of "Improving laws on press development in the digital age" took place in Hanoi. Organized by the press department and the electronic magazine Viettimes, the event was a platform for important discussions about the challenges and perspectives of the press in modern Vietnam. Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy, deputy head of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Mass Mobilization, held the opening speech and emphasized the urgent need to change and supplement the press law.

The workshop was characterized by an exchange about the legal regulations that should contribute to the institutionalization of party strategies. Luu Dinh Phuc, director of the press department, explained the revised draft of the press law, which includes decisive new provisions. One central goal is to make a clear distinction between different types of journalism and to overcome the "newspaperization" of magazines. The draft excludes general electronic information pages from the definition as journalistic products and indicates that there are two essential prohibited actions:

• electronic information pages and social networks that produce messages themselves.
• Provision of harmful information for external relationships.

regulations and structures in the press sector

Another important point on the agenda was the regulation to issue press cards. It has been made clear that employees cannot receive any identification of scientific magazines. Dr. Le Hai, who moderated the discussion about press complex models, emphasized the need to establish media groups in order to remedy existing shortcomings in Vietnamese journalism. Mr. Nguyen Kim Khiem also suggested to provide detailed explanations about the media complex in future workshops.

The topic of press economics was also addressed. Mr. Le Quoc Vinh called for regulations to promote the freedom of business and unification of press agencies. Editor-in-chief Phung Cong Suong pointed out the need to eliminate bottlenecks in the revised press law, while Mr. Nguyen van Ba ​​called for the liberation of the press from corporation tax, similar to how it is already in the health and education sector.

regulations on the news aggregation

In accordance with the developments in the press sector, news aggregation websites must comply with the government's provisions. According to the provisions in Article 37, which regulate the association in press activities, press agencies can collect cooperation with other press agencies, legal entities or business -related individuals. The head of a press agency is therefore responsible for all associated press activities. These associations can be realized in different areas, including:

• Design, layout, pressure, advertising and distribution of pressing.
• acquisition of copyrights in content from foreign publications.
• Production of radio and television programs in various areas such as science, technology and culture.
• Production of print and online press products.

However, it must be ensured that associated broadcasting and television programs that serve political and propaganda purposes can make up a share of no more than 30 % of the main programs of these channels. Content from these associations must correspond to the laws of Vietnam, which emphasizes the need to respect national traditions and practices.

The results of the workshop and the proposed changes in the press law are essential steps to further develop the Vietnamese media sector in the digital age. In the future, it is crucial that these new regulations and structures are successfully implemented in order to promote both the freedom of the press and to meet legal framework conditions.

For more information about press development in Vietnam, see the reporting on vietnam.vn and the legal foundations at wipo.int .