Do people in Vietnam have the right to protest? What are the fines for illegal protest in Vietnam?

Do people in Vietnam have the right to protest?

Pursuant to Article 25 of the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 2013 stipulating as follows:

Citizens have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and have the right of access to information, the right to assembly, the right to association, and the right to demonstrate. The exercise of those rights shall be prescribed by law.

Pursuant to Article 7 of the Decree 38/2005/NĐ-CP stipulating gathering of large groups of people in public places is as follows:

The gathering of large groups of people in public places must be registered in advance with the competent People's Committee where the activities take place and must be carried out in accordance with the content that has been registered. This regulation does not apply to activities organized by Party, State agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and political-social organizations.

Therefore, there are currently no regulations prohibiting people from protesting. However, protesting is an act of expressing social views on a national issue. If the protest is used to gather and cause chaos, it is considered an act of causing public disorder.

Note that when protesting, you must register with the People's Committee where the protest takes place and must follow the content that has been registered. If you protest without prior registration, it is considered an illegal protest and will be subject to penalties.

Do people in Vietnam have the right to protest? What are the fines for illegal protest in Vietnam? - Source: Internet

What are the fines for illegal protest in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 4 Article 7 of the Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating violations against regulations on public order as follows:

4. A fine ranging from 3.000.000 VND to 5.000.000 VND shall be imposed for any of the following violations:

a) Hiring, inciting, enticing, tempting another person to cause disruption of public order;

b) Carrying, storing, hiding cold weapons, combat gears or other items that can cause injuries; items, vehicles for the purpose of disrupting public order or causing injuries to another person;

c) Taking advantage of democracy, freedom of religion and belief to organize, hire, entice, tempt another person to infringe upon interests of the State, or lawful rights and interests of another organization or individual;

d) Disrupting or obstructing normal operation of an organization;

dd) Gathering, joining crowds illegally at Communist Party agency, State agency or an area where crowds are banned.

e) Dumping, throwing wastes, dirty matters, chemicals, debris or other objects into a house, residence; at a person, item or property of another person; into the premises of an organization, workplace, factory, business organization, protected area or guard post thereof;

g) Entering a protected area or guard post thereof without permission;

h) Using an UAV or ultralight aircraft to fly a flag, banner, drop fliers or play audio propaganda against the flight permit;

i) Writing, spreading, circulating documents or images that are meant to slander another organization or individual, except the case specified in Clause 1 Article 101 of the Government’s Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP.

Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 4 of the Decree 144/2021/NĐ-CP stipulating as follows:

2. The fines specified in Chapter II of this Decree are imposed upon administrative violations committed by individuals. The fine imposed upon an organization for the same violation shall be twice the fine imposed upon an individual.

Therefore, anyone who organizes an illegal protest will be fined from VND 3 million to VND 5 million. If a group of people organize an illegal protest, they will be fined from VND 6 million to VND 10 million.

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