New law for digital journalism: A turning point in Vietnam!

New law for digital journalism: A turning point in Vietnam!

A workshop on “Improving Press Development Laws in the Digital Age” was held in Hanoi on May 16, 2025. Organized by the press department and the electronic magazine VietTimes, the event was a platform for important discussions on the challenges and prospects of the press in modern Vietnam. Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy, deputy head of the Central Commission for Propaganda and Mass Mobilization, gave the opening speech and emphasized the urgent need to amend and supplement the Press Law.

The workshop was characterized by an exchange about the legal regulations that are intended to 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 crucial new provisions. A key 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 sites from the definition as journalistic products and notes that there are two main prohibited actions:

• Elektronische Informationsseiten und soziale Netzwerke, die selbst Nachrichten produzieren.
• Bereitstellung schädlicher Informationen für Außenbeziehungen.

Regulations and structures in the press sector

In addition to these points, a model for a multimedia press and communications complex was presented, allowing press groups to have affiliated agencies and act like companies. In this context, strict principles for press work in cyberspace were also established. The Vietnamese Association of Journalists is therefore given the authority to monitor compliance with professional ethics.

Another important point on the agenda was the regulation on issuing press cards. It has been clarified that employees of scientific journals cannot receive ID cards. Dr. Le Hai, who moderated the discussion on press complex models, stressed the need to establish media groups to address existing deficiencies in Vietnamese journalism. Mr. Nguyen Kim Khiem also suggested that detailed explanations about the media complex be given 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 association of press agencies. Editor-in-Chief Phung Cong Suong pointed to the need to address bottlenecks in the revised press law, while Mr Nguyen Van Ba ​​called for the press to be exempt from corporate tax, similar to what is already the case in the health and education sectors.

News aggregation regulations

In line with developments in the press sector, news aggregation websites must comply with government regulations. According to the provisions of Article 37 governing association in press activities, press agencies may enter into cooperation with other press agencies, legal entities or commercially registered individuals. The head of a press agency is therefore responsible for all associated press activities. These associations can be realized in various areas, including:

• Design, Layout, Druck, Werbung und Verbreitung von Presseinhalten.
• Erwerb von Urheberrechten an Inhalten aus ausländischen Publikationen.
• Produktion von Rundfunk- und Fernsehsendungen in verschiedenen Bereichen wie Wissenschaft, Technologie und Kultur.
• Produktion von Print- und Online-Presseprodukten.

However, care must be taken to ensure that associated radio and television programs that serve political and propaganda purposes may not account for more than 30% of the broadcast time of the main programs of these channels. Content from these associations must comply with the laws of Vietnam, which emphasizes the need to respect national traditions and practices.

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

For more information about press developments in Vietnam, see the coverage on vietnam.vn and the legal basis wipo.int.