Key Events
- Việt Nam Orders Police to Finalize Eight Cybersecurity Decrees by July 1;
- Police Arrest Operators of ONUS Exchange in Cryptocurrency Crackdown;
- Final Holdout Households in Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area Agree to Move After Road Blockades;
- Police Propose Housing and Pay Incentives for Cybersecurity Force;
- Party Chief Tô Lâm Reaffirms Marxism While Calling for Governance Reform.
Government Orders Police to Fast-Track Eight Cybersecurity Decrees Ahead of July 1 Deadline
The government has instructed the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) to complete eight decrees guiding the implementation of the revised Cybersecurity Law within just over three months, setting a firm deadline of July 1, 2026.
The directive, issued under a March 16 decision signed by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, lays out an accelerated plan to operationalize the amended law, which is scheduled to take effect on the same date.
According to official planning documents, six of the eight draft decrees have already been released for public consultation, while the remaining two are still being developed.
The MPS now has only a limited window—just over three months—to finalize all drafts and submit them for approval before the law comes into force.
The compressed timeline has raised the likelihood that some of the decrees will be enacted under expedited legislative procedures, allowing them to take effect immediately or shortly after issuance.
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Such fast-tracked policymaking has become increasingly common in recent years, particularly in areas related to security and governance.
The decrees are intended to provide detailed guidance on key aspects of cybersecurity governance, including the prevention of cybercrime, the protection of information systems, and procedures for applying security measures.
They also cover regulations on cybersecurity products and services, as well as mechanisms for enforcing compliance under the new legal framework.
The push to finalize these regulations comes in the broader context of expanding authority for the police in digital governance.
Recently, the ministry has played a leading role in drafting and implementing major legislation, including the revised Cybersecurity Law, the Law on Personal Data Protection, and other measures related to digital security and law enforcement.
The revised Cybersecurity Law was passed in October 2025 under an expedited process, introducing tighter controls over online activities and expanding state oversight in the digital space.
Among its notable provisions are requirements related to user identification and enhanced monitoring capabilities, reflecting the government’s stated goal of strengthening cybersecurity and combating online crime.
With the July 1 deadline approaching, the rapid development and adoption of these decrees will play a critical role in shaping the country’s digital regulatory landscape, as authorities move to enforce a more comprehensive and centralized system of cybersecurity control.
ONUS Crypto Exchange Operators Arrested in Major Fraud Crackdown
Authorities have arrested several individuals linked to the cryptocurrency platform ONUS, alleging their involvement in one of the country’s largest digital fraud cases, involving billions of U.S. dollars and millions of users.
The Ministry of Public Security launched criminal proceedings on March 23, targeting a network accused of using computer and telecommunications systems to appropriate assets and launder money.
The investigation spans multiple major cities, including Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Nẵng, and Cần Thơ, following coordinated raids and searches across the country.
At least seven suspects have been detained, including key figures such as Vương Lê Vĩnh Nhân (Eric Lê), a fintech entrepreneur associated with the ONUS ecosystem, along with several accomplices who allegedly managed operations and technical infrastructure.
Investigators say the group operated a large-scale scheme dating back to 2018, creating and promoting digital tokens—including VNDC, ONUS, and HNG—and selling them to investors through the ONUS platform.
To attract users, the suspects allegedly disseminated misleading promotional information, presenting the tokens as legitimate investment opportunities.
The authorities further allege that the group manipulated market activity by artificially controlling supply and demand, adjusting token prices, and conducting coordinated transactions to create the illusion of growth.
This centralized control over trading conditions enabled the network to mislead investors and extract substantial funds. The platform reportedly drew in millions of users, reflecting the country’s rapid rise as one of the world’s most active cryptocurrency markets.
However, in mid-March, users began reporting that the ONUS application had become inaccessible, raising concerns over the safety of their assets and triggering widespread alarm among investors.
During the investigation, the authorities summoned more than 140 individuals for questioning and seized computers, mobile devices, documents, and other evidence. Officials also moved to prevent the destruction of data and the dispersal of assets, aiming to limit further losses.
While authorities have not released a full estimate of total damages, preliminary findings suggest that the scheme mobilized funds worth billions of dollars, making it one of the most significant recent cybercrime cases involving digital assets.
The case underscores the growing scrutiny of cryptocurrency activities as regulators and law enforcement agencies seek to address risks in a rapidly expanding but still loosely regulated digital asset market.
After Three Days of Road Blockades, 100 Thủ Thiêm Households Agree to Relocate
Authorities in Hồ Chí Minh City say nearly 100 remaining households in the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area have agreed to relocate after an intensive three-day campaign that included widespread traffic restrictions and coordinated on-the-ground mobilization.
From March 23 to 25, local authorities closed or restricted multiple key roads in the Thủ Thiêm area, limiting access to and from the neighborhood.
The traffic controls, announced by city police, affected major routes such as Lương Định Của, Trần Não, and Nguyễn Cơ Thạch, as well as the entire Thủ Thiêm Bridge, effectively isolating parts of the area during the operation.
During the same period, local authorities, including officials from An Khánh Ward, intensified efforts to persuade residents who had not yet handed over their land.
These efforts involved direct engagement, logistical support, and the deployment of personnel and vehicles to assist with moving belongings.
By March 25, officials reported that all remaining households had “voluntarily” agreed to relocate and transfer their land to the city, marking the completion of site clearance for this phase of the long-delayed Thủ Thiêm project.
Residents were relocated to resettlement apartments in the area, including units prepared in advance for displaced households. Authorities said dozens of families had already received apartments, with some allocated multiple units depending on household size and eligibility.
The Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area, spanning nearly 720 hectares, has been one of the country’s most ambitious urban development projects, envisioned as a future financial and commercial hub.
However, it has also been marked by years of disputes over land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement policies.
Previous reports have documented long-standing grievances among affected residents, including claims of inadequate compensation and disputes over whether certain properties were included within official planning boundaries. These tensions have made Thủ Thiêm one of the most controversial land clearance cases in recent decades.
The latest development signals a major turning point for city authorities, who are under pressure to accelerate infrastructure and real estate projects tied to broader economic plans.
Once land clearance is completed, construction and landscaping work are expected to proceed rapidly, with officials aiming to complete the urban area before 2030.
While officials frame the outcome as a consensus-based relocation, the combination of traffic restrictions and concentrated mobilization efforts over a short period highlights the intensity of the final push to secure land handover—bringing a contentious chapter of the Thủ Thiêm project closer to its next phase.
Draft Decree Proposes Housing, Special Benefits for Cybersecurity Forces
The MPS is proposing a series of preferential policies—including housing support and enhanced compensation—for personnel of the police tasked with protecting cybersecurity as part of a broader effort to expand and professionalize the country’s digital security apparatus.
A draft decree on cybersecurity protection forces, open for public consultation from March 20 to 30, outlines the proposal. The decree is one of eight implementing regulations required to operationalize the revised Cybersecurity Law, all of which must be completed before July 1.
Under the draft, cybersecurity forces would be divided into three tiers: 1) a core specialized force under the MPS and the Ministry of National Defense; 2) a standing force embedded across government agencies, organizations, and key enterprises; and 3) a reserve force made up of external experts and auxiliary personnel mobilized when needed.
The proposal emphasizes closer public–private coordination in cybersecurity operations, including data sharing, information verification, and joint response mechanisms through contractual partnerships.
A central feature of the draft is a system of “special treatment” policies designed to attract and retain talent in what authorities describe as a high-risk, high-skill field.
These include priority access to housing, preferential healthcare policies, and tailored compensation packages aligned with the technical demands of the job.
For the core specialized force, the draft introduces additional financial incentives, with total income—including bonuses and allowances—potentially reaching up to 300% of base salary for personnel in particularly sensitive or high-intensity roles.
These benefits are expected to apply to a limited number of positions requiring continuous operations, high-level confidentiality, and rapid-response capabilities.
The draft also reflects a broader strategy to build a highly trained and responsive cybersecurity force capable of operating across both state and private sectors.
The authorities have highlighted the importance of developing human resources as a foundation for national digital defense, especially as cyber threats and data security concerns continue to grow.
The push to formalize these policies comes amid an ongoing expansion of the police role in regulating the digital space.
The revised Cybersecurity Law, passed under expedited procedures in December 2025, introduces tighter controls over online activities and significantly broadens state authority over data, platforms, and users.
Public feedback on the draft decree will be accepted until the end of March, after which it is expected to be submitted for government approval.
If adopted on schedule, the decree will take effect on July 1, 2026, alongside the revised law—marking a further step toward consolidating a centralized and institutionalized system of cybersecurity governance.
Tô Lâm Balances Marxist-Leninist Orthodoxy With Calls for Governance Reform
Party General Secretary Tô Lâm has reaffirmed a dual-track approach to governance, emphasizing a firm dedication to Marxism-Leninism while simultaneously calling for sweeping reforms to modernize the country’s political and administrative system.
In a recent policy-oriented article in the party’s newspaper, Lâm stressed that Marxism-Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought remain the ideological foundation guiding the state and the ruling party.
This position reflects the long-standing doctrine that political legitimacy and governance must be rooted in socialist principles, even as the country navigates an increasingly complex global and domestic environment.
At the same time, Lâm called for significant improvements in governance, urging a more efficient, transparent, and responsive state apparatus.
His reform agenda centers on streamlining bureaucracy, reducing administrative overlap, and enhancing state capacity—objectives that have already begun to shape recent restructuring efforts across ministries and local governments.
This dual emphasis highlights a broader tension within the current leadership: maintaining ideological continuity while pursuing pragmatic reforms to sustain economic growth and administrative effectiveness.
Analysts note that such a balance is not new, but under Lâm, it has become more pronounced, particularly as decision-making power has grown more centralized at the top.
Since assuming leadership, Lâm has promoted what officials describe as a “leaner, more effective” state, aligning with his push to cut red tape and accelerate policy implementation.
His government has pledged ambitious economic targets and administrative reforms, including simplifying procedures and boosting efficiency to support long-term development goals.
However, this reform drive has unfolded alongside an expansion of state security powers, especially in the digital sphere.
Critics argue that efforts to modernize governance are occurring in parallel with tighter control over political expression and civil society, raising questions about the balance between efficiency and accountability.
The mix of strict beliefs and calls for change shows a key part of the country’s political system: a “socialist-oriented market economy” that combines strong government control with some economic freedom.
As the leadership pushes forward with both ideological consolidation and institutional reform, the approach underscores a strategic calculation—preserving the party’s foundational doctrine while adapting governance mechanisms to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy and society.
Quick Takes:
Political Prisoner Lê Trọng Hùng Released After Completing Sentence
Independent journalist and political activist Lê Trọng Hùng was released from prison on March 27, 2026, after completing his five-year sentence, according to confirmation by his wife on Facebook.
Hùng was arrested in March 2021 after announcing his candidacy as an independent for the National Assembly and was later sentenced under Article 117 for “anti-state propaganda.”
His case drew attention from international rights groups, who criticized his imprisonment as part of a broader crackdown on independent voices. His release marks the end of his prison term, though he is expected to remain under probation.
Draft Proposes Exit Bans, Utility Cuts for Unpaid Fines
The police have proposed stricter measures against those who fail to pay administrative fines, including exit bans and the suspension of electricity and water services. The proposal is part of a draft amendment to the Law on Handling Administrative Violations, now under review. Authorities say the measures aim to close enforcement gaps and prevent violators from evading penalties. However, critics warn that the plan could infringe on basic rights and disrupt business operations, raising concerns about proportionality and legal limits in enforcing administrative sanctions.
Party Takes Direct Control of State Media in 7-Day Shift
The Communist Party has ordered the transfer of three major state media outlets—Vietnam Television (VTV), Voice of Vietnam (VOV), and Vietnam News Agency (TTXVN)—from government management to direct party oversight within seven days. The decision, announced after a Central Committee meeting on March 25, sets an April 1 deadline for completion. Officials say the move will strengthen centralized leadership over key media platforms, which is an important step in consolidating political control over the country’s press system.
Prime Minister Calls for Strategic Oil Reserve at Nghi Sơn
The prime minister has ordered the rapid development of a strategic oil reserve facility at Nghi Sơn, as authorities move to strengthen energy security amid global supply pressures. During a working visit to the Nghi Sơn Refinery, officials were instructed to accelerate plans for a large-scale crude oil storage project, with local authorities tasked to expedite land clearance and coordination with affected residents.
The proposed reserve, expected to support both the refinery and national demand, is part of a broader effort to diversify supply sources and reduce vulnerability to external shocks. Officials described the project as both an urgent priority and a long-term solution to stabilize energy supply and enhance national resilience.
Vietnamese Leaders Silent on Phan Châu Trinh’s 100th Death Anniversary
Top party and state leaders remained publicly silent during the 100th anniversary of the death of reformist Phan Châu Trinh on March 24. No senior officials were reported to have issued statements or attended commemorations, despite events held by local authorities and academic groups. Known for advocating democracy, civil rights, and peaceful reform, Phan Châu Trinh remains a significant intellectual figure in Vietnam. The absence of high-level recognition has drawn attention amid ongoing discussions about his legacy and influence on modern governance.
