The latest print edition of the Economist, featuring Vietnam’s top leader on its cover, has been banned in Vietnam, marking another instance of media censorship in the communist, one-party state. The magazine showcased an image of Communist party General Secretary To Lam with stars on his eyes, alongside the headline “The man with a plan for Vietnam,” and an article with the subheading: “A Communist party hard man has to rescue Asia’s great success story.”
Vietnam has embarked on a transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse over recent decades and has been one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies. However, its export-reliant economy, heavily dependent on sending goods to the US, is threatened by a 46% tariff announced by Donald Trump early this year.
The Economist‘s article highlighted the urgent need for Vietnam to change its economic strategy, stating that failure to do so would result in Vietnam remaining a low-value-added production center that missed its opportunity. In contrast, successful reforms could propel 100m Vietnamese into the developed world, creating another Asian growth engine.
Reports by Reuters and Bloomberg quoted unnamed distributors who claimed they could not obtain copies of the banned magazine. An executive at Ngay Moi, a distributor, mentioned receiving orders to tear off the cover and article about General Secretary To Lam and not to sell the magazine at all. Another employee at Global Book Corporation confirmed that Vietnam’s ministry in charge of public information banned the edition.
The Economist‘s ban reflects the government’s increasing restrictions on media freedoms. Vietnam’s ministry of foreign affairs and the Economist have not responded to requests for comments. Earlier this month, Vietnamese authorities ordered telecom providers to block the messaging app Telegram, alleging its failure to cooperate with efforts to combat crime.
Reporters sans Frontières ranks Vietnam among the worst countries for media freedom, positioning it at 173 out of 180 countries. The organization states that Vietnam is “one of the world’s biggest prisons for journalists.” Aleksandra Bielakowska, Advocacy Officer for RSF, emphasizes that the ban on the Economist demonstrates the government’s ongoing efforts to suppress press freedom and independent voices.
As Vietnamese authorities strive to improve the economy through rapprochement with democracies, Bielakowska argues that the international community should prioritize human rights and press freedom in their negotiations, referencing the case of journalist Pham Doan Trang, who has been detained by the regime for nearly five years.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/30/hanoi-bans-the-economists-issue-featuring-vietnams-leader-on-its-cover-reports-say
