Vietnam pushes new publishing bans and revises asset expropriation law

Members of the Vietnam National Assembly are proposing amendments to the Publishing Law that would prohibit the publication, printing or distribution of content that incites hatred, discrimination or regional division. Deputy Nguyen Van Huy highlighted the need for clear rules on historical and political material, while other deputies discussed broader reforms such as shifting from pre‑publication checks to post‑publication oversight and expanding digital publishing provisions.

The Ministry of Finance, represented by Nguyen Tan Thinh, head of the Public Asset Management Agency, presented five policy proposals to amend the 2008 Law on Expropriation. The draft aims to narrow the categories of assets subject to compulsory purchase, broaden those that can be expropriated, clarify authority and procedures, set transparent pricing and compensation rules, and strengthen reporting and accountability. Both legislative packages are slated for government review and parliamentary consideration later in 2026.