Hanoi: Vietnam has approved major changes to its press and state secrecy laws, a move that journalists and rights groups say will make reporting in the country more difficult and risky.

The revised Press Law, which will take effect in July 2026, gives authorities wider powers to force journalists to reveal their sources. Previously, only courts could demand this information in investigations involving serious crimes. Under the new rules, the Ministry of Public Security and local police can also order journalists to identify their sources in a broader range of cases.

At the same time, parliament expanded the list of issues legally classified as state secrets. The new categories include details of overseas trips by senior leaders and financial information related to government settlement

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