Vietnam has been under the state's control for decades. The 1986 Doi Moi or “new change” policy does not guaranty political reform. The change aims at exposing Vietnam to the world and reforming the country’s socialist economy to become guided-market economy. Although conventional cultural practices that had been banned for decades are now more accepted and even supported by the government, still, political participation are under control and public opinions are under tight surveillance. During the past decade, however, the Internet became a new challenge to the Vietnamese state. Vietnamese activists (nhà hoạt động), not only NGOs but also villagers, have paved their new ways to voice themselves on the Internet. This can perhaps be called a construction of “civil cyber society.”

 

My presentation presents a preliminary ethnographic account on cyber activism. I explore how current Vietnamese activists seek opportunities to express themselves and engage in social activities via the Internet. In addition to documentary research, I interviewed activists and participated in some of their activities. However, the Vietnamese cyber space is not neutral and never be one-sided. There are another side of the activists, some of which are allegedly state-sponsored, who attack these progressive activists. I seek to understand how the progressive activists struggle to present themselves and their opinions on the Internet. Also, as state's surveillance remains active, I look at how cyber activists find tactics to slip away from the state's control.