Understanding Vietnam’s drug policy from a human-right lens

Anh Nguyen is undertaking a PhD exploring Vietnam’s drug policy from a human rights lens.

Vietnam, the first country in Southeast Asia to decriminalise personal drug use in 2009, has retained restrictive approaches to drug-related issues. The perception of drug use has shifted from a ‘social evil’ problem to a public health issue, yet this transition has not been fully implemented in practice. In July 2025, the country re-criminalised personal drug use under specific conditions, including during or shortly after compulsory or voluntary rehabilitation, or while under post-rehabilitation supervision, according to the 2025 amended Penal Code. While Vietnam has been long condemned with its approach in drug treatment by international human rights actors, such abrupt change in policy once again raises concerns about social justice and human rights commitments of the country in drug policy.

By combining desk research with key informant in-depth interviews, the project will explore key influences that affect Vietnam’s commitment to human-rights obligations with respect to drug policy, including colonial history, international human rights actors’ pressure, and national values and ideologies.