Vietnamese Journalist Allegedly Assaulted in Police Custody Sparks Press Freedom Alarm

March 23, 2026 – Vietnam –

Vietnamese independent journalist Nguyen Hoang Vi was allegedly assaulted while being held at a police station in Ho Chi Minh City, in a case that has drawn condemnation from international press freedom groups and renewed concern over the treatment of critical voices in the country.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Vi was stopped by police on March 19, 2026, while taking her child to school and was taken into custody without being told why she was being detained. She was reportedly held for more than 10 hours at a local police station before being released without charge.

During her detention, Vi said she was physically assaulted by a police officer, whom she identified by name. She alleged that the officer repeatedly struck her on the head with a sandal and forced her to sign printed copies of posts and journalistic content she had shared on Facebook. CPJ said the incident appeared to be linked to her recent online comments questioning voter registration and election-related procedures in Vietnam.

Press freedom advocates have described the incident as part of a broader pattern of intimidation against independent journalists and commentators in Vietnam, where authorities tightly control media and frequently target dissenting voices online. CPJ called on Vietnamese authorities to disclose the reason for Vi’s detention, investigate the alleged assault, and hold those responsible accountable. The organization also noted that Vietnam remains one of the world’s leading jailers of journalists.

Vi is not new to such pressure. She has previously faced harassment and abuse because of her reporting and activism, including earlier incidents involving police detention and mistreatment. Her case has therefore been seen by observers not as an isolated event, but as another example of the hostile environment facing independent journalists in Vietnam.

The incident has intensified concerns about the shrinking space for independent journalism and free expression in the country, particularly ahead of politically sensitive periods. Rights advocates warn that arbitrary detention and physical intimidation are increasingly being used to suppress criticism and discourage journalists from reporting on governance, elections, and civil liberties.

As calls for accountability grow, Vi’s case highlights the continuing risks faced by journalists in Vietnam, where reporting critically or independently can still carry serious personal and legal consequences.

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Vietnamese journalist Nguyen Hoang Vi allegedly assaulted while in police detention