Vietnam regulators to continue probe into TikTok over harmful content
Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) will continue to inspect TikTok’s activities in the country this month following infringements found in May.
Vietnamese regulators launched an inspection of the cross-border social network’s operations in Vietnam in the middle of May, targeting “toxic” content after reports on TikTok users arbitrarily using private and personal images to spread fake news, smears, and insults.
A TikTok sign in Culver City, California in the U.S. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency/AFP.
The MIC plans to announce the findings in July, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Lam told the ministry’s monthly press briefing in Hanoi on Monday. He stressed that Vietnamese regulators were following up on leads to identify TikTok’s violations.
The deputy minister underlined that his ministry and relevant authorities are taking measures to curb infringements via cross-border social networks like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook.
According to the ministry, advertising pornographic clips and gambling applications via the platforms has become rampant. There have multiple reports of clips featuring “online gangsters” on YouTube, and advertisements for gambling websites.
Lam told the press briefing that his ministry had sent social platforms messages regarding content management.
From April 15 to May 15, at the MIC’s request, Facebook blocked and removed 399 posts containing false information and anti-state content, equal to 91% of those requested. Google removed 1,901 videos of similar content on YouTube (94% of the requests), and TikTok blocked and removed 51 links (98% of the requests), according to the MIC.
The ministry will strictly handle violations on the social platforms to ensure a clean cyberspace environment, Le Quang Tu Do, head of the country’s Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information (ABEI), told a cyberspace conference in Hanoi on May 27.
He said the investigation into TikTok starting in mid-May, led by his agency, targeted “toxic” content. Do noted that TikTok will be prohibited in Vietnam if it continues to be uncooperative with the government, while other cross-border social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook will face bans if they do not observe Vietnamese laws.
- Related News
- Read More
Taiwanese apparel material supplier Paiho injects additional $120 mln into southern Vietnam unit
Paihong Vietnam Co. Ltd., a unit of Taiwan-based Paiho Shih Holdings Corporation serving the footwear and apparel industries, has decided to raise capital by $120 million through the issuance of 120 million new shares.
Industries - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 5:28 pm GMT+7
Vietnam calls for expanded flexible financing tools from ADB
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has called on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to expand flexible and preferential financing instruments better suited to Vietnam’s funding needs for development investment in the coming period.
Economy - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 4:08 pm GMT+7
Asia’s leading luxury travel magazine hails Hanoi's new opera house: 'Move aside, Sydney'
Even while under construction, the new Hanoi Opera House at West Lake has become a focal point for international media.
Companies - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 11:21 am GMT+7
Duc Giang Chemicals CEO reassures shareholders, accepts profit erosion pressure
CEO of Duc Giang Chemicals Group JSC (HoSE: DGC) Luu Bach Dat admitted shortcomings in the company’s legal compliance following the arrest of senior executives and pledged to close regulatory loopholes to prevent similar issues in the future.
Companies - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 10:54 am GMT+7
Vietnam developer Saigonres plans $650 mln investment for next 5 years
Saigon Real Estate Group JSC (Saigonres) plans total investment of VND17.11 trillion ($650.37 million) for 2026-2030, implying average annual capital demand of about VND3-4 trillion ($114-152 million).
Real Estate - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 10:15 am GMT+7
Firms must abandon five leadership habits to navigate AI era: FPT CEO
The important thing is not to chase AI, but to apply AI to solve the right organizational problems, said Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT Corporation, a leading technology company in Vietnam.
Companies - Sun, May 10, 2026 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Trung Nam Group's solar power arm suffers $37 mln loss amid rising debt pressure
Trung Nam Thuan Nam Solar Power Company Limited, a subsidiary of the multi-sector Trung Nam Group, incurred a net loss of VND969 billion ($36.83 million) in 2025, reversing a profit of VND138.2 billion ($5.35 million) a year earlier, according to its 2025 earnings statement.
Companies - Sat, May 9, 2026 | 3:01 pm GMT+7
French firms eye Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway project
A delegation of 15 major French companies and industrial groups has expressed interest in participating in Vietnam’s planned North-South high-speed railway project.
Infrastructure - Sat, May 9, 2026 | 2:38 pm GMT+7
Grocery chain Bach Hoa Xanh opens 1st store in Hanoi, takes cautious northern Vietnam expansion approach
Bach Hoa Xanh, a grocery chain operated by Vietnam’s leading retailer Mobile World Investment Corporation (HoSE: MWG), has opened its first store in Hanoi, marking entry into one of the country’s most competitive consumer markets.
Companies - Sat, May 9, 2026 | 8:17 am GMT+7
Intel to continue expanding investment in Vietnam: exec
U.S. chipmaker Intel will continue expanding investment, supporting workforce training, and helping develop Vietnam’s semiconductor ecosystem as the country refines investment support mechanisms to retain large-scale high-tech projects, said its executives.
Industries - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 7:48 pm GMT+7
Vietnam stocks extend rally to fresh record high
Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index extended gains for a fourth straight session on Thursday, closing at a new all-time high of 1,915.37 points as large-cap banking and property stocks supported the market despite continued foreign selling.
Finance - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 5:49 pm GMT+7
Vingroup’s VinMetal partners with Primetals for green steel complex in central Vietnam
Vingroup’s subsidiary VinMetal has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with global steel giant Primetals Technologies to develop a large-scale integrated steel complex in central Vietnam.
Industries - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 4:25 pm GMT+7
Hanoi pushes Sumitomo, BRG to accelerate $4.2 bln smart city project
Hanoi authorities have asked Japan’s Sumitomo and local conglomerate BRG Group to quicken the progress of the North Hanoi Smart City project as soon as legal procedures are finalized.
Real Estate - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 3:31 pm GMT+7
Moody's Ratings upgrades MBBank's deposit ratings to Ba2 from Ba3, outlook stable
Moody’s Ratings (Moody’s) has announced an upgrade of the local currency and foreign currency long-term deposit and issuer ratings for Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB, HoSE: MBB) from Ba3 to Ba2, aligning with Vietnam’s sovereign rating (Ba2 positive). The outlook remains "Stable."
Banking - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 3:00 pm GMT+7
Vietnam welcomes leading Indian groups to expand energy, infrastructure cooperation: top leader
Vietnam is ready to create favorable conditions for capable Indian corporations and businesses to expand investment and operations in the country in line with its laws, while ensuring transparency and balanced interests among stakeholders, said Vietnam’s Party chief and President To Lam.
Economy - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 1:59 pm GMT+7
Vietnam airport operator ACV records slows disbursement for Long Thanh mega-airport project
Airports Corporation of Vietnam's (ACV) slow disbursement for the Long Thanh International Airport project, located in the southern province of Dong Nai, highlights implementation bottlenecks despite the company's strong profitability in Q1/2026 and substantial cash reserves for the country's largest aviation infrastructure project.
Companies - Fri, May 8, 2026 | 1:41 pm GMT+7
