Vietnam Detains Five Over Controversial Ho Chi Minh Biography

Vietnamese police have detained a former technology executive and four other individuals for their roles in publishing and promoting the book *In Conversation with Thanh: A New Account of the Light*. The author, Nguyen Thanh Nam, was arrested on June 27. On July 11, three senior staff of the Vietnam Writers’ Association Publishing House—Nguyen Thuy Hang, Dao Ba Doan, and Nguyen Van Yen—were also taken into custody. Human Rights Watch called for their unconditional release on July 22.

Human Rights Watch

The book, released in April, presents Ho Chi Minh’s life through dialogues between a teacher and a student, using contemporary language to appeal to younger readers. After initial positive coverage, retired provincial Party official Phan Trung Can criticized it in June, prompting a wave of online condemnation. The publishing house subsequently recalled the book and withdrawn it from circulation.

Human Rights Watch

Under Article 117 of the Penal Code, which criminalises “anti-state propaganda,” those convicted can face up to 20 years in prison. The Bureau of Publication, Printing and Distribution (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) suspended the publishing house’s operations for two months and imposed a fine of 100 million dong (?US$3,800). The Press Bureau later fined 23 newspapers for promoting the book, and more than a dozen journalists received warnings, suspensions, or dismissals.

The Straits Times

• Arrests: 5 individuals (author, two tech entrepreneurs, three publishing officials).

Human Rights Watch

• Potential sentence: up to 20 years imprisonment per Article 117.

The Straits Times

• Fines: 100 million dong on the publishing house; 23 newspapers fined for promotion.

Human Rights Watch

• Industry impact: Spiderum, the online discussion platform founded by co-arrested entrepreneur Tran Viet Anh, was suspended; over 20 newspapers previously fined for related coverage.

Human Rights Watch

• “The wave of arrests for a book about Ho Chi Minh sends a chilling message to all Vietnamese writers, journalists, and publishers that the proclaimed new era of 'national rise' just means more repression,” — Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch's Asia director, in a statement

The Straits Times

• “For the Communist Party leadership, even a book about their founding father written for young people can be deemed a threat to the party’s monopoly on power,” — Elaine Pearson, Human Rights Watch's Asia director, in a statement

Human Rights Watch