How civil society groups and activists are planning to reclaim civic space in Vietnam

October 25, 2025

Vietnam Rise is a diaspora-founded organization working to empower grassroots activists and civil society in Vietnam despite restrictive civic space. The organization runs fellowship and incubation programs that train activists in leadership skills and provide seed grants for grassroots groups working on issues like labor rights and LGBT concerns. Vietnam Rise faces significant challenges including state media misinformation, political punishment risks in Vietnam's one-party system, and international ignorance about Vietnam's authoritarian nature.

Who is affected

Grassroots activists and civil society in Vietnam
Vietnamese diaspora members concerned about their homeland
Labor rights advocates, educational access groups, and LGBT activists
Human rights defenders in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
Marginalized communities in Vietnam
Youth activists in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

What action is being taken

Vietnam Rise is running biannual intakes for incubation and fellowship programs that train activists and provide seed grants
The organization is organizing in-person training and study tours for activists to meet with regional counterparts
Vietnam Rise is participating in the Terali project, a helpdesk service for East and Southeast Asian human rights defenders
The organization is taking part in regional dialogues like the 2025 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly
Vietnam Rise is organizing the Social Movement Festival in November, which will include a Regional NGO Roundtable

Why it matters

Vietnam's restrictive civic space makes it difficult for human rights groups to operate without government targeting
Vietnam is a one-party state with increasingly limited legal space for civil society
Activists face severe punishment for political activities, including charges of tax evasion, anti-state propaganda, and "abusing democratic freedoms"
Vietnam's authoritarian nature is relatively obscure internationally compared to countries like China and North Korea
Regional collaboration becomes crucial as financial resources for activism become more scarce
The work helps empower self-sustaining activist communities within Vietnam

What's next

Vietnam Rise is organizing the Social Movement Festival in November, which will gather communities, groups, and activists leading Vietnamese movements and youth-driven initiatives
The festival will feature an offline Regional NGO Roundtable bringing together regional youth activists' perspectives on effectively engaging marginalized communities in Southeast Asia

Read full article from source: Global Voices