In 2002, Phan Van Khai was re-elected as Prime Minister of Vietnam, signaling a continuation of the country’s evolving relationship with the United States. A notable milestone occurred in 2004 when a United Airlines flight landed in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the first direct American passenger service to Vietnam since the Vietnam War. This route, however, was discontinued in October 2016, and no replacement service has emerged to date.

Khai made a significant visit to the United States in 2005, which was followed by the election of a new wave of younger leaders in 2006. One of Khai’s chosen successors, Nguyen Tan Dung, took over as Prime Minister, advancing economic reforms in the context of Vietnam’s “state capitalism” model, while also tackling corruption. A major achievement occurred in early 2007 when Vietnam officially joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) after over a decade of intense negotiations.

Nguyen Tan Dung was reappointed as Prime Minister in 2011, but his tenure faced challenges. In 2016, he attempted to challenge Nguyen Phu Trong, the party’s General Secretary and Vietnam’s most powerful leader, but ultimately lost the power struggle. Nguyen Xuan Phuc was subsequently elected as the new Prime Minister.

Despite these advancements, corruption remained a persistent issue in Vietnam. In 2000, investigations into senior government officials revealed the embezzlement of millions in state funds. A decade later, a major scandal involving Vinashin, one of the country’s largest state-owned enterprises, nearly led to its collapse, resulting in the arrest and imprisonment of its chairman. The Communist Party’s General Secretary was compelled to publicly apologize for various other scandals in state-run companies. In 2014, another significant fraud trial involving Vietinbank resulted in the imprisonment of 23 individuals.

Human Rights Challenges

Contrary to expectations for a more progressive government, Vietnam’s human rights record has drawn criticism, particularly in 2008, when the government implemented measures to curb online dissent by preventing bloggers from posting “inappropriate content.” That same year, two journalists were arrested for exposing corruption, leading to the imprisonment of Nguyen Van Hai and Nguyen Viet Chien. While Hai was released after pleading guilty, Chien was among over 15,000 prisoners granted amnesty in early 2009. However, the government continued to crack down on dissent, as seven pro-democracy activists were jailed later that year, with another wave of arrests occurring in early 2010.

One notable case involved Le Cong Dinh, a local lawyer known for his advocacy in human rights cases. His detention was met with condemnation from organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which criticized the government’s suppression of online discourse. In 2013, 22 more individuals were arrested for anti-government activities, and a decree was introduced that prohibited discussions of “current affairs,” further stifling free speech.

The repression of dissent escalated in 2014 when two prominent bloggers were arrested, and in 2016, the blogger known as “Mother Mushroom” received a ten-year prison sentence for “defaming” the regime. Her case gained international attention, earning her the International Women of Courage Award from U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

Vietnam’s government has increasingly mimicked China’s approach to managing dissent, pressuring Western companies to comply with content restrictions. In 2019, Vietnam’s Minister of Information and Communications revealed that Facebook complied with 70-75% of government requests to restrict content, a significant increase from the previous 30%, while Google complied with 80-85%, up from 60%.

The suppression of dissent has not been confined to political opposition. In 2013, at least fifty Christians were arrested, contributing to Vietnam’s ranking as one of the worst countries globally for religious freedom. However, in 2014 and 2015, reforms to the Marriage and Family Law and the Civil Code were introduced to reduce discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Although societal prejudices remain, they are notably lower among younger generations, signaling a potential shift towards greater acceptance in the future.