Unveiling Vietnam's Crises

When most people think of Vietnam, visuals of lively street markets, bustling cities, and mouthwatering pho often come to mind. Travel brochures and delicious food may have created this wonderful vision, but it may also hide the more somber and complicated realities that the nation faces. This vibrant and popular façade conceals a number of deep crises that are reshaping Vietnam's present and future, including political unrest, economic hardships, and environmental issues. It is necessary to see past the lighthearted, consoling preconceptions in order to comprehend the serious and sometimes terrible realities that the country faces on a daily basis. 

In 1975, after the Fall of Saigon, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) took over Vietnam’s leadership and began implementing laws that stripped citizens of their access to basic rights such as freedom of expression, religion, peaceful assembly, and speech.

In Vietnam, severe cyber security rules and strict control over the communication of information are used to enforce limits on freedom of speech. Major social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Meta work closely with the government to filter and delete anything that goes against the beliefs of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). This widespread censorship also affects educational institutions, as teachers who voice political beliefs that conflict with CPV regulations risk harsh repercussions, including jail time and loss of employment. For example, the Lam Dong People's Court sentenced 39-year-old Duong Tuan Ngoc to seven years in jail and three years of probation. He was found guilty under Article 117 of the Penal Code for using his social media accounts to spread anti-state propaganda and criticize senior authorities. Only topics that support the party's beliefs may be discussed or taught by teachers, which stifles criticism and free discussion in the academic community.

Religious freedom is severely curtailed in Vietnam, where state approval is needed for any kind of religious practice. There is "constant surveillance and harassment" for unrecognized religious organizations, such as Cao Đài, Hòa Hảo, and certain Christian and Buddhist groups. A number of incidents could happen to certain religious groups, including "public criticism, forced renunciation of faith, detention, interrogation, torture, and imprisonment." Religious organizations need to get government authorization before they may organize meetings, which can be a challenging process. In addition, a lot of human rights groups are outlawed, and those who participate in them run the possibility of going to jail. The country's limitations on religious freedom are made worse by the frequent prejudice faced by ethnic and religious minorities. This discrimination takes the shape of legal, environmental, and social issues.
The courts and the legal system of Vietnam are entirely under the jurisdiction of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). The judicial system's reliance on lay attorneys and people's courts restricts the availability of formal legal counsel and supervision. Furthermore, suspects may be held by the police for up to 20 months during which they may not have full access to legal representation. Generally, state officials have a great deal of power and frequently use force against civilians without repercussions.  Abuses of power and infringements on legal rights are frequent in this legal context because of the broad control and lack of accountability.
Sexual crimes in Vietnam, including human trafficking and sexual abuse, present an urgent and continual issue. Human trafficking is a common occurrence, where victims are frequently enticed to karaoke bars, massage parlors, and hotels so they may be exploited for their bodies. Because victims of trafficking may risk shame and consequences if they come forward, many cases go undetected. Furthermore, the prevalence of sexual abuse is startlingly high, especially when it involves minors. These atrocities serve as a stark reminder of a chronic and significant issue in Vietnam, one that reflects ingrained difficulties in addressing and preventing sexual exploitation and violence.
There are other problems in Vietnam besides the crises that are highlighted more frequently. Because all of the nation's land is held by the state, private property rights are restricted and ownership and use of land may be affected. Another urgent issue is labor maltreatment, which especially affects migrant workers who frequently work in difficult conditions. Vietnamese migrant laborers usually have to work for 8.7 months or more only to pay for their migration expenses. In addition, some 30,000 men, women, and kids are imprisoned without trial in detention facilities on the pretense of receiving "drug treatment." These people are supposedly receiving treatment for drug addiction, but in reality, they are being forced to work and are abused, exposing grave violations of human rights that are covered up by the pretense of recovery and guarding against sexual assault and exploitation.

Orphans 

Vietnam's orphan problem brings to light pervasive social and economic issues, since a large proportion of minors suffer greatly as a result of family dissolution, disease, and poverty. Numerous orphanages struggle with overcrowding and underfunding, which results in subpar treatment and varied degrees of abuse. Families that are unable to pay to raise their children are frequently forced by economic constraints to either leave them or place them in state care. The possibility of exploitation and trafficking exacerbates the situation, as some orphans are exposed to cruel methods that are covered up as “care.” Improving orphanage facilities, strengthening help for families in need, and maintaining strict monitoring to safeguard children's rights are all necessary to address this issue.

Our nonprofit is dedicated to aiding orphans in Vietnam as an essential component of our mission to support vulnerable populations in spotlighted countries. The orphan crisis in Vietnam, impacted by overcrowded and underfunded orphanages, financial strain on families, and risks of abuse, presents an urgent demand for intervention. Our goals are to improve the standard of living for orphans, and give them access to necessary resources. Supporting orphans correlates with our larger mission to foster positive change and ensure that every child has the opportunity for a brighter and more secure future.

“World Report 2020: Rights Trends in Vietnam.” Human Rights Watch, 23 Jan. 2020, www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/vietnam. 

Vietnamese, RFA. “2 Teachers Jailed for Criticizing Authorities on Social Media.” Radio Free Asia, 24 Apr. 2024, www.rfa.org/english/news/vietnam/teachers-jailed-04242024183923.html. 

“Orphan Crisis in Vietnam.” Serving Orphans Worldwide | Center of Hope- Vietnam, soworldwide.org/vietnam-center-of-hope/. Accessed 9 Sept. 2024. 

“Freedom of Religion in Vietnam.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Aug. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion_in_Vietnam.