The press is not allowed to report on personal privacy.

With 89.47% of delegates in favor, on the morning of April 5, the National Assembly passed the amended Press Law.

The revised Press Law took effect on January 1, 2017 with 6 chapters and 61 articles, clearly stipulating prohibited acts including: Disclosing information in the list of State secrets, personal privacy secrets and other secrets as prescribed by law; providing false information, distorting, slandering, or insulting the reputation of agencies, organizations, or the honor and dignity of individuals; attributing crimes without a court verdict; information promoting bad customs, superstitions, and heresies; information about mystical stories that cause confusion in society, negatively affecting social order, safety, and health of the community; inciting violence; propagating depraved lifestyles; meticulously describing obscene acts and criminal acts; information that is not in accordance with Vietnamese customs and traditions.

National Assembly deputies vote to pass the amended Press Law and the amended Children Law. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

The Law also stipulates that the subjects eligible to establish press agencies include: Party agencies, State agencies, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations, and religious organizations operating legally in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law from the provincial level or equivalent or higher.

Higher education institutions as prescribed by the Law on Higher Education; scientific research organizations, scientific research and technology development organizations organized in the form of academies and institutes as prescribed by the Law on Science and Technology; hospitals managed by provincial level or equivalent or higher... are allowed to establish scientific journals.

Also according to the amended Press Law, citizens have the right to freedom of speech in the press, such as: Expressing opinions on the situation of the country and the world; participating in giving opinions on the formulation and implementation of the Party's guidelines, policies, and the State's laws; contributing opinions, criticisms, recommendations, complaints, and denunciations in the press against Party organizations, state agencies, socio-political organizations, socio-political-professional organizations, social organizations, socio-professional organizations, and members of those organizations.

According to chinhphu.vn