The Vietnamese government has intensified its crackdown on dissent to punish people for raising concerns about government policies or local officials.

U.S.-based human rights organisation Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

In a report, HRW documents the Vietnamese government’s increased use of the penal code to target those who raise concerns via social media and other means.

HRW associate Asia director Patricia Gossman said the law was the government’s handy tool to infringe upon the basic rights of Vietnamese citizens.

“The Vietnamese authorities’ abuse the ‘infringing of state interests’ law not only to silence prominent activists and whistleblowers. But to retaliate against ordinary people who complain about poor services or police abuse,’’ Ms Gossman said.

Authorities should immediately end the systemic repression and release everyone detained or imprisoned for exercising their basic rights, she added.

Between 2018 and February 2025, Vietnamese courts convicted and sentenced no fewer than 124 people to harsh prison terms under the penal code, HRW found.

This significantly increased over the previous six-year period when only 28 people were reportedly convicted and sentenced to prison.

Ms Gossman called on Vietnam’s trading partners to take a stand.

“Vietnam’s trade partners have been routinely overlooking the government’s heightened abuse of human rights in the name of economic development and investment opportunities.

“International donors and trade partners should publicly and privately press Vietnam to immediately release anyone held for peacefully expressing their opinions online, and repeal the ‘Infringing of State Interests’ Law,’’ Ms Gossman said. 

(dpa/NAN)