Vietnam issues new decree on press sector administrative penalties

The Vietnamese government has issued Decree 367/2026/ND-CP, establishing new administrative penalties for violations within the press sector. Signed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the decree takes effect on September 26, 2026. Maximum fines are set at 500 million VND for organizations and 250 million VND for individuals.

Key provisions include increased protections for journalists. Penalties for unlawfully obstructing professional activities range from 20 to 30 million VND, while the illegal seizure of journalistic tools or documents carries fines of 30 to 50 million VND. Threats or intimidation against a journalist's life, if not reaching criminal prosecution levels, can result in fines between 70 and 100 million VND. Additionally, insulting a journalist's honor or damaging their equipment may incur fines of 50 to 70 million VND.

The decree also addresses content violations. Fines of 20 to 40 million VND apply to disclosing private information without consent, publishing content contrary to Vietnamese customs, or spreading superstition. Other penalties target the dissemination of false information, failure to cite sources, and content that negatively impacts the physical or mental development of children.