US Congressman Derek Tran Expresses Concern Over Human Rights Abuses in Vietnam, Urges Dialogue

US Congressman Derek Tran, representing California's 45th Congressional District, has sent a letter to Vietnam's Ambassador to the United States, Nguyen Quoc Dung, expressing "deep concern over the Vietnamese government's continuous human rights violations" and urging Hanoi to fulfill its international commitments. The letter, dated June 26 and made public on July 22 on the US House of Representatives website, thanked Ambassador Dung for his April response to Tran's "request to visit conscience prisoners" detained in Vietnam. Tran's earlier request, sent to General Secretary and President To Lam on April 8, stated that "the Vietnamese government has shown it is not trustworthy. I must personally assess the health and living conditions of conscience prisoners, as well as directly hear their stories... The Vietnamese communist authorities have a deplorable human rights record, with over 160 political prisoners and peaceful dissidents detained, subjected to many dangerous living conditions." Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung responded in April. In June, Tran sent a follow-up letter to Ambassador Dung, reiterating his stance on human rights in Vietnam. Addressing Ambassador Dung's response that Tran's remarks were "inaccurate and do not reflect the legal reality or the reality in Vietnam," Congressman Derek Tran, in his June 26 letter, stated that his assessment was based on reports from human rights organizations, international bodies, and documented cases, including reports from the US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He argued that these were factual conclusions, not political assessments, and that citing domestic law alone could not justify actions deemed violations of internationally recognized human rights. "Your assertion that Vietnam merely adheres to domestic law demonstrates a disregard for the fundamental principle that human rights are universal values," Tran wrote. While welcoming Vietnam's expressed willingness to dialogue, Tran suggested that Hanoi's refusal to acknowledge these violations could hinder constructive dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Tran listed a series of issues, including arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture and inhumane treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, transnational repression, and restrictions on freedom of speech, press, religion, and association. A notable point in the letter was Tran's criticism of what he called the Vietnamese government's campaign of "transnational repression" against Vietnamese-Americans who criticize Hanoi. "The Vietnamese government's campaign of transnational repression to silence Vietnamese-Americans critical of the regime raises serious concerns about Vietnam's commitment to bilateral relations." He cited the case of Dr. Thang Nguyen, a US citizen and Executive Director of Boat People SOS (BPSOS), who was sentenced in absentia to 11 years in prison in April by the People's Court of Dak Lak Province on terrorism charges. Previously, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security had placed BPSOS on a list of "organizations linked to terrorism" and issued an international arrest warrant for Dr. Nguyen. "BPSOS is a US non-profit organization that has spent decades assisting Vietnamese refugees, victims of human trafficking, and victims of human rights abuses. There is no credible legal basis to label the activities of BPSOS or Dr. Thang as 'terrorism.' "The conviction in absentia of a US citizen simply for advocating on behalf of refugees is a direct affront to the United States and the bilateral relationship between our two countries," the letter stated. The letter also addressed amendments to the Cybersecurity Law and the Press Law, passed by the Vietnamese National Assembly in late 2025 and effective from July 1, 2026. According to Tran, the amended Cybersecurity Law grants broad powers to the Ministry of Public Security in managing the internet, including the authority to demand telecommunications companies remove content and provide user data without independent judicial oversight. He also argued that the amended Press Law allows authorities to demand journalists reveal their sources, expands regulations for media outlets' social media channels, and permits the Ministry of Public Security to demand immediate content removal without appeal or protest procedures. He contended that these laws not only regulate journalism and internet activities but also facilitate increased state surveillance and censorship. Citing an Amnesty International report, he noted that Vietnamese police had arrested and prosecuted at least 43 people in 2025 under provisions he described as broad and vague in the Penal Code. He urged Vietnam to review these provisions and amend its laws to align with international human rights law before they take effect. He reiterated that Vietnam ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) nearly 44 years ago and, upon its re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term, accepted additional obligations to protect human rights. "I call on the government of Vietnam to fulfill its commitments under international law, not just in words but in deeds," he wrote, while encouraging both sides to maintain open dialogues on human rights. At the end of the letter, Tran stated that he welcomed Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung's declaration that Vietnam is ready to receive delegations of US Congress members for visits and work. He expressed his desire for both sides to coordinate preparations for a visit by US lawmakers to Vietnam to inspect the condition of conscience prisoners and their detention conditions. He also noted that his staff were available to discuss the framework of democratic values and commercial interests that he believes should be the foundation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the US and Vietnam. Tran's letter was published a week after the US House of Representatives passed a spending bill with a provision on human rights dialogue with Vietnam. Specifically, on July 16, the House passed H.R. 8595, the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2027, which included an amendment proposed by Congressman Derek Tran. This amendment aims to direct the use of funds allocated for the US-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue to pressure the Vietnamese government to address human rights violations, including the detention of journalists, dissidents, and religious leaders, according to a press release from Congressman Derek Tran's office on July 16. Tran's letter to Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung was also published a week after the European Union released a press statement on July 17, concerning...