Anti-China activist Pham Van Chinh has secretly been sentenced to five years in prison on allegation of “conducting anti-state propaganda” after a dispute with Vietnamese automaker VinFast over a car technical failure.
Chinh, a resident of Hanoi taking part in peaceful demonstrations in 2011 to protest China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea), was arrested on October 17 last year and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code, according to Hanoi-based lawyer Ha Huy Son.
According to the lawyer, Chinh was tried in a first-instance hearing with two lawyers hired by his family. The state-controlled media has not covered news on his arrest nor his trial.
Chinh was among most active participants in anti-China protests fifteen years ago when Beijing sent patrol and research ships into Vietnam’s waters in the East Sea. After years remaining low-profile, he became famous again when he filed complaints again VinFast, the automobile maker of Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong.
Accordingly, Chinh purchased a VF3 but it suffered a serious damage when travelled in mountainous area. He said his vehicle experienced brake seizing incident while descending a mountain pass and he suspected that the incident was due to technical problem of its producer.
Chinh requested the company to investigate the incident and possible compensation. He posted his complaints on Facebook in August 2025 and even requested VinFast to openly explain. His posts became viral, getting supports from people who want to have high-quality locally-made products.
Chinh also accused VinFast of using many low-quality autoparts from China for its products while claiming its vehicles are locally-produced.
He stopped Facebook posting in mid-October last year and many think that he may get a new vehicle from VinFast or receive adequate compensation from the firm which is propagandized as the leading firm representing Vietnam’s industrial pride.
Chinh is the first Vietnamese being imprisoned after disputing with VinFast owned by Pham Nhat Vuong, who got huge support from Vietnamese communist leaders, including late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his successor To Lam.
Many other Vietnamese only got fine over VND7.5 million ($300) for their online posts in which they reported technical failures of VinFast cars, including front axle breaking, spontaneous combustion, electrical system shutdown, etc.
Along with using police to suppress people complaining VinFast’s technical failures, Pham Nhat Vuong also threatened to suit 68 Facebookers for posting articles unfavorable for his automaker, including foreign-based independent journalists Phuong Ngo, Hoang Dung, Le Trung Khoa, Nguyen Van Dai, and Dang Thi Hue. His action has forced most of them delete their posts and stop writing about VinFast while legal actions against foreign-based journalists continue.
Former prisoner of conscience Le Anh Hung re-arrested
Meanwhile, police in Hanoi on March 9 arrested former prisoner of conscience Le Anh Hung on allegation of “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code.
Hung was re-arrested while visiting former prisoner of conscience Dinh Van Hai in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, who compled his six-year sentence in 2025. Police took him in custody and extradited to the capital city later. A few days after that, his family was informed about his arrest and charge.
Hung, 53, was arrested for the first time in July 2018 and charged with “abusing democratic freedom” under Article 331 of the Criminal Code. After sending him to psychiatric hospital for forced treatment for around two years, he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in July 2023.
It is unclear on what is based his second arrest. For the first imprisonment, he accused General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and many other senior officials of betraying the country and served for China’s interests without providing solid evidence.
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March 31, 2026
VinFast client imprisoned after dispute over automobile technical failure
by Defend the Defenders • [Human Rights]
Pham Van Chinh and his VF3 (Fb)
By Defend the Defenders, March 30, 2026
Anti-China activist Pham Van Chinh has secretly been sentenced to five years in prison on allegation of “conducting anti-state propaganda” after a dispute with Vietnamese automaker VinFast over a car technical failure.
Chinh, a resident of Hanoi taking part in peaceful demonstrations in 2011 to protest China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea (South China Sea), was arrested on October 17 last year and charged with “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code, according to Hanoi-based lawyer Ha Huy Son.
According to the lawyer, Chinh was tried in a first-instance hearing with two lawyers hired by his family. The state-controlled media has not covered news on his arrest nor his trial.
Chinh was among most active participants in anti-China protests fifteen years ago when Beijing sent patrol and research ships into Vietnam’s waters in the East Sea. After years remaining low-profile, he became famous again when he filed complaints again VinFast, the automobile maker of Vietnamese billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong.
Accordingly, Chinh purchased a VF3 but it suffered a serious damage when travelled in mountainous area. He said his vehicle experienced brake seizing incident while descending a mountain pass and he suspected that the incident was due to technical problem of its producer.
Chinh requested the company to investigate the incident and possible compensation. He posted his complaints on Facebook in August 2025 and even requested VinFast to openly explain. His posts became viral, getting supports from people who want to have high-quality locally-made products.
Chinh also accused VinFast of using many low-quality autoparts from China for its products while claiming its vehicles are locally-produced.
He stopped Facebook posting in mid-October last year and many think that he may get a new vehicle from VinFast or receive adequate compensation from the firm which is propagandized as the leading firm representing Vietnam’s industrial pride.
Chinh is the first Vietnamese being imprisoned after disputing with VinFast owned by Pham Nhat Vuong, who got huge support from Vietnamese communist leaders, including late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his successor To Lam.
Many other Vietnamese only got fine over VND7.5 million ($300) for their online posts in which they reported technical failures of VinFast cars, including front axle breaking, spontaneous combustion, electrical system shutdown, etc.
Along with using police to suppress people complaining VinFast’s technical failures, Pham Nhat Vuong also threatened to suit 68 Facebookers for posting articles unfavorable for his automaker, including foreign-based independent journalists Phuong Ngo, Hoang Dung, Le Trung Khoa, Nguyen Van Dai, and Dang Thi Hue. His action has forced most of them delete their posts and stop writing about VinFast while legal actions against foreign-based journalists continue.
Former prisoner of conscience Le Anh Hung re-arrested
Meanwhile, police in Hanoi on March 9 arrested former prisoner of conscience Le Anh Hung on allegation of “conducting anti-state propaganda” under Article 117 of the Criminal Code.
Hung was re-arrested while visiting former prisoner of conscience Dinh Van Hai in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, who compled his six-year sentence in 2025. Police took him in custody and extradited to the capital city later. A few days after that, his family was informed about his arrest and charge.
Hung, 53, was arrested for the first time in July 2018 and charged with “abusing democratic freedom” under Article 331 of the Criminal Code. After sending him to psychiatric hospital for forced treatment for around two years, he was sentenced to five years in prison. He was released in July 2023.
It is unclear on what is based his second arrest. For the first imprisonment, he accused General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and many other senior officials of betraying the country and served for China’s interests without providing solid evidence.