A routine passport renewal trip and family visit has turned into a serious ordeal after a BBC journalist was blocked from leaving Vietnam and repeatedly questioned by police.
The journalist, a Vietnamese national living and working in Thailand, travelled to Vietnam in August to apply for a new passport. Although a renewed passport was issued, authorities withheld it along with other identity documents. Over several days, police reportedly questioned the reporter about their work, sources and reporting methods.
The BBC confirmed that the journalist has been “unable to leave the country for months” because their documents remain withheld. The broadcaster said it was concerned for the reporter’s safety and called on the Vietnamese government to allow them to travel freely.
The timing of the case is politically sensitive. Vietnam’s General Secretary, Tô Lâm, is currently visiting the UK, and supporters of the journalist hope the British prime minister will raise the issue. They argue that strong diplomatic ties should not come at the expense of human rights or press freedom.
Since taking over as General Secretary of the Communist Party in August 2024, Tô Lâm has tightened control of the media and increased pressure on independent voices. Most outlets in Vietnam are state-run, and journalists must follow strict government guidelines. Independent blogs and social media accounts critical of the authorities are often blocked, while writers and activists risk arrest for publishing material seen as “anti-state.” In May, Vietnam banned the printed edition of The Economist after it featured Tô Lâm on its cover with stars over his eyes.
In the 2025 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Vietnam 173rd out of 180 countries, noting that journalists and independent bloggers are often jailed for their reporting.
Rights groups have condemned the move as an attack on press freedom. Phil Robertson, of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, warned that the journalist could face further punishment and imprisonment unless the UK intervenes. He said the reporter should “be allowed to leave the country immediately”.
For now, many are waiting to see whether the UK will demand the journalist’s safe exit when engaging with Vietnam on trade and diplomacy. The case is a stark reminder of the risks journalists face in countries where the media is tightly controlled.
