Vietnam Rise supports grassroots activists inside Vietnam ^{CEFR B2}

Vietnam Rise supports grassroots activists inside Vietnam while operating under difficult conditions. Founded by three members of the Vietnamese diaspora, the organisation publishes research, runs fellowship and incubation programs, and seeks to raise international awareness of VietnamĂs shrinking civic space. Low outside attention is partly linked to VietnamĂs image as an economic success and tourist destination.

The fellowship trains activists in leadership skills. The incubation program provides seed grants and project management support. Fellows and incubation groups work on issues such as labor rights, educational access and LGBT rights. Vietnam Rise also organises in-person training and study tours so activists can meet peers and learn from movement actors across Southeast Asia.

Staff describe a hostile environment: state media sometimes spreads misinformation and the governmentĂs closing legal space has produced charges against activists, including tax evasion, anti-state propaganda and "abusing democratic freedoms." Unregistered groups that encourage public questioning of authority can be labelled reactionary or, in extreme cases, terrorist. The risk of political punishment has pushed many activists into discreet or underground activity or silence.

Regional collaboration is central to the organisationĂs strategy as funding becomes scarce. Vietnam Rise says activists in Southeast Asia should pool skills, data and regional knowledge. It participates in the Terali project, a helpdesk service that addresses cybersecurity problems and aims to build a shared database of data threats in the region. Other helpdesk providers involved include:

• TibCert (Tibet)
• Security Matters (Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Malaysia)

Vietnam Rise took part in the 2025 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC). Its program manager said many young activists continue to attend regional meetings and share experiences, and that strategic reallocation of resources and collaboration can help movements adapt to hostile environments. The organisation is also organising the Social Movement Festival in November, which will include an offline Regional NGO Roundtable to discuss engaging marginalised communities in Southeast Asia.