Archive · 22 Jul 2026
Vietnam Arrests Five Over Ho Chi Minh Book
In Vietnam, five people were arrested for their roles in publishing and promoting a book about Ho Chi Minh.
The book was criticized by the government for distorting history and insulting national leaders.
Human Rights Watch has called for their release, stating that the arrests are a form of repression.
The book was withdrawn in June after criticism from party members and online commentators.
The detainees face up to 20 years in prison under anti-state propaganda laws.
Five people, including the author Nguyen Thanh Nam, were arrested in Vietnam over a book about Ho Chi Minh.
The book was criticized for distorting history and insulting national leaders.
Human Rights Watch condemned the arrests and called for the release of the detainees.
The book was withdrawn in June following criticism from party members and online commentators.
The detainees face up to 20 years in prison under anti-state propaganda laws.
- Who
- Nguyen Thanh Nam and four other individuals, including senior officials from the Vietnam Writers’ Association Publishing House
- What
- Arrests over the publication and promotion of a book about Ho Chi Minh
- When
- July 2023
- Where
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Why
- The book allegedly contained anti-state content and distorted history according to the Vietnamese government
Human Rights Watch
Vietnamese Government
Arrests and Charges
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch condemns the arrests as a violation of free expression and calls for the release of the detainees.
Vietnamese Government
The Vietnamese government maintains that the book distorts history and insults national leaders, justifying the arrests under anti-state propaganda laws.
- Date of Arrests
- July 2023
- Author Arrested
- Nguyen Thanh Nam
- Book Title
- In Conversation with Thanh: A New Account of the Light
- Charges
- Making, storing, and disseminating anti-state propaganda
- Penal Code Article
- Article 117
- Maximum Prison Term
- 20 years
- Human Rights Watch Director
- Elaine Pearson