LITTLE SAIGON, CA, November 13, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN) today announced that three human rights activists currently imprisoned have been selected to receive the 2026 Vietnam Human Rights Award. The recipients are Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung, independent journalist Le Huu Minh Tuan, and human rights activist Le Chi Thanh.

This year's award ceremony will be co-hosted by the VNHRN and the Human Rights Relief Foundation (HRRF) in Sydney, Australia, on December 6, 2026, as part of the organizations' observance of International Human Rights Day and the 78th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Nguyen Ba Tung, Executive Director of the VNHRN, stated:
"In the current climate, the 2026 Vietnam Human Rights Award is more than just a continuation of our annual tradition; it represents a resolute commitment from the Vietnamese diaspora worldwide to provide stronger support for those within the country who are being persecuted for their human rights advocacy. It also serves as a definitive response to the oppressive Communist regime in Vietnam, affirming that violence can never diminish the people's aspirations for their fundamental human rights."

ABOUT THE VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
Established by the Vietnam Human Rights Network in 2002, the Vietnam Human Rights Award (VNHRA) is presented annually to individuals and organizations in Vietnam that have made outstanding contributions to protecting and promoting the human rights of the Vietnamese people.

The award also provides Vietnamese communities worldwide with an opportunity to express solidarity with and support for those who tirelessly advocate for fundamental freedoms, human dignity, and justice in Vietnam.

Since its inception, the VNHRA has honored 64 individuals and six organizations in Vietnam. Over the past 24 years, the award ceremony has been held in conjunction with International Human Rights Day in cities around the world, including Paris (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Melbourne (Australia), Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto (Canada), as well as several cities across the United States.

SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE THREE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2026 VIETNAM HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD

PASTOR NGUYEN MANH HUNG
Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung was born in 1954 in Hai Phong. He served as a platoon leader and later as the unit's political commissar in the North Vietnamese military.

After 1975, he left the military and joined the state-unrecognized Mennonite Church. He was ordained pastor in 2011 and succeeded Pastor Duong Kim Khai in leading Hội Thánh Chuồng Bò (Cow Shed Church)—part of an independent Mennonite denomination—after Pastor Khai was imprisoned by the Vietnamese communist authorities.

Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung is also a member of the Vietnam Inter-Faith Council, through which he has consistently advocated for religious freedom and human rights. In 2015, he testified before the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, exposing the Vietnamese government's suppression of independent religious communities. Beyond his advocacy for religious freedom, he has also spoken out against corruption and unlawful land seizures by the authorities and publicly defended political prisoners.

His commitment to human rights came at a high personal cost. After years of harassment and repression, he was arrested on January 16, 2025, following a police raid on his home.

On June 8, 2026, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City sentenced him to five years and six months in prison, followed by five years of probation, on the charge of "conducting propaganda against the State."

Pastor Hung is currently serving his sentence at Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province. His health has reportedly deteriorated significantly amid harsh prison conditions.

Pastor Nguyen Manh Hung's life embodies a remarkable transformation: from a soldier who once fought for the Vietnamese communist regime before 1975 to a pastor and social activist now behind bars for his convictions. Had he chosen to remain silent and conform to the authorities, he could have pursued a life of relative comfort and privilege.

Yet, whether in wartime or peacetime, on the battlefield or at the pulpit, he has remained steadfast in his convictions, demonstrating the courage and determination to stand by his principles despite the personal consequences.

JOURNALIST LE HUU MINH TUAN
Prisoner of conscience Le Huu Minh Tuan was born in 1989 in Quang Nam Province. He holds a degree in history from the University of Danang and studied Law at Hanoi Law University.

Recognizing the importance of freedom of expression and the media's role in an otherwise closed society, Tuan joined the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam (IJAVN), where he oversaw daily reporting for Vietnam Thoi Bao (Vietnam Times), the association's official publication. Writing under the pen name "Le Tuan," he produced incisive articles exposing social injustices, examining Vietnam's political landscape, and contributing to public discussion of the country's democracy movement.

His work attracted a wide readership in independent media circles and drew the attention of the Vietnamese authorities. He was placed under surveillance and repeatedly summoned for police questioning about his journalism and activities with the IJAVN.

On June 12, 2020, he was arrested and charged with "conducting propaganda against the State" under Article 117 of the Vietnamese Penal Code. His arrest followed those of two other prominent IJAVN members, Pham Chi Dung and Nguyen Tuong Thuy, who faced the same charge. During the investigation, Tuan was held in solitary confinement for five months without access to a lawyer or any means of communicating with his family.

On January 5, 2021, a court sentenced all three journalists to a combined 37 years in prison. Tuan received an 11-year prison sentence, followed by three years of probation.

He is currently detained at Xuyen Moc Prison in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province. His health has reportedly deteriorated severely due to chronic illnesses and harsh prison conditions.

International human rights organizations have repeatedly called for his release, citing humanitarian concerns. Nevertheless, the Vietnamese authorities have failed to respond adequately to appeals for appropriate medical care. His family has also reportedly been prevented from sending him medication, further jeopardizing his already fragile health.

Le Huu Minh Tuan represents a generation of young journalists who have chosen to pursue the truth rather than remain silent and to engage with society rather than stand by indifferently. Despite the heavy price he has paid, he remains a symbol of courage and perseverance in the struggle for freedom of expression and an independent press in Vietnam.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST LE CHI THANH
Human rights activist Le Chi Thanh, born in 1983 in Vinh Phuc Province, is a remarkable figure who once wore a police uniform but ultimately found the courage to challenge injustice and stand up for the truth.

At the age of 20, Le Chi Thanh joined the police force, serving at Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province and the Z30D facility in Thu Duc, Binh Thuan Province. During his service, he witnessed the exploitation of prisoners and abuses of power by his superiors. These experiences prompted him to reflect deeply on the meaning of justice and human dignity.

The 2014 HD-981 oil rig crisis marked a turning point in his political outlook. He became increasingly disillusioned with the authorities' treatment of citizens who peacefully expressed their patriotism and concern for national sovereignty. Convinced that unquestioning loyalty to the regime harmed the country's interests, he began openly challenging corruption and authoritarian rule. In July 2020, he was expelled from the police force.

After leaving the force, Le Chi Thanh turned to Facebook and YouTube to expose corruption and social injustice. His videos documenting traffic police conduct attracted tens of thousands of viewers, with some reaching hundreds of thousands. He also supported fellow anti-corruption activists and ran as an independent candidate for the National Assembly in 2021. However, authorities arrested him on April 14, 2021, just one month before the election.

On January 14, 2022, the Thu Duc City People's Court sentenced him to two years in prison for "obstructing persons performing official duties" under Article 330 of the Penal Code. On June 22, 2022, the Ham Tan District People's Court imposed an additional three-year sentence for "abusing democratic freedoms" under Article 331, in connection with his critical writings and videos.

During his imprisonment, Le Chi Thanh was transferred among eight different prisons, where he endured torture and other forms of brutal treatment. By the time of his second trial, his physical condition had deteriorated so severely that two police officers had to support him as he stood before the court.

Released in June 2025, he resumed his human rights advocacy with renewed determination. Facing mounting pressure, he legally traveled to Thailand in late 2025 using a valid passport and subsequently obtained refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

However, after Vietnamese authorities revoked his passport, he was detained by Thai authorities at the Bangkok Immigration Detention Center and faced the threat of deportation to Vietnam. The detention of Le Chi Thanh in Thailand is one instance of the transnational repression policy that the Vietnamese authorities are employing against dissidents—a matter that warrants the attention of the international community.

The Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN) is an independent coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Vietnam.

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