Ha Nhi women seek information on the internetKeywords: Right to access information; Ethnic minorities; Ethnic policy; Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.
1. Introduction
In the process of building a socialist rule of law state in Vietnam, the right to access information has been stipulated in the 2013 Constitution, linked to the principles of openness and transparency in state management and the participation of citizens in social life. For ethnic minorities, the right to access information does not stop at “knowing”, but is a necessary condition to properly and fully understand the guidelines and policies of the Party and State; from there, proactively participate, monitor and benefit from ethnic policies. However, the information access gap between ethnic minority and mountainous areas and other areas still exists, stemming from many objective and subjective reasons.
In the context of digital transformation and the diversification of communication methods, the requirement to ensure the right of ethnic minorities to access information raises new issues, demanding a more appropriate and substantive approach. Therefore, studying the right of ethnic minorities to access information from a policy and practical implementation perspective has profound scientific and practical significance.
2. Theoretical and policy frameworks about the right of ethnic minorities to access information
Article 25 of the 2013 Constitution states: “Citizens have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, access to information, assembly, association and demonstration. The exercise of these rights shall be regulated by law”.
Specifically, Clause 3, Article 2 of the 2016 Law on Access to Information explains: “Access to information is the act of reading, viewing, listening to, recording, copying and photographing information”. Article 3 of the Law on Access to Information emphasizes five principles for ensuring the right to access information: (1) All citizens are equal and not discriminated against in exercising their right to access information. (2) The information provided must be accurate and complete. (3) The provision of information must be timely, transparent, convenient for citizens; in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law. (4) Restrictions on access to information must be prescribed by law in cases where it is necessary for reasons of national defense, national security, public order, social safety, social morality and public health. (5) The exercise of citizens' right to access information must not infringe upon national interests, the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations or other people. (6) The State creates favorable conditions for people with disabilities, people living in border areas, islands, mountainous areas, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions to exercise their right to access information.
In Vietnam, citizens’ right to access information is also stipulated in numerous legal documents related to journalism, publishing, information technology and grassroots communication. For ethnic minorities, this right is integrated into ethnic policies.
3. Ensuring the right of ethnic minorities to access information
Firstly, about the scope and responsibility for providing information: The Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs is responsible for state management and also for providing and publicly disclosing information related to ethnic affairs, beliefs, and religions, such as: disseminating information on ethnic policies and guidelines, and religious activities; drafting, issuing and disseminating regulations on information transparency; receiving, classifying and processing citizens’ requests for information; responding promptly to the majority of requests and letters…
This information is publicly posted; information is disclosed periodically and on an ad hoc basis on bulletin boards at the headquarters and through the Ministry’s electronic information system and portal.
Secondly, in order to support citizens in exercising their right to access information, over the past 7 years, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has implemented 60 information technology projects; organized 81 conferences and workshops on digital transformation; built 933 support points for ethnic minority communities to apply information technology to serve socio-economic development and ensure security and order; the organization conducted 248 training courses on managing and using equipment, maintaining and operating information technology application points, with 6,060 participants; and received dozens of citizens seeking information on laws related to beliefs, religions and ethnic affairs. After receiving guidance and accessing information and documents, most citizens were satisfied.
Thirdly, about information disclosure, the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs publicly discloses all legal documents and administrative documents with general applicability; information for disseminating and guiding the implementation of laws, regulations and policies in the areas under the management of state agencies. Specifically: (1) Legal documents, administrative documents; international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, international agreements to which Vietnam is a party related to the field of ethnic affairs, beliefs and religions. (2) Information on the duties and powers of civil servants directly handling citizen reception work; periodic work reports. (3) Statistical information on the industry and management sector; national database of the industry and sector. (4) Annual financial report; information on the use, management, training, fostering, rewarding and salary levels of civil servants, public employees, and workers. (5) Public disclosure of the Ministry's programs, projects, plans and schemes; list and procedures for implementing administrative procedures in the field of ethnicity, belief and religion on the electronic portal and at the headquarters. (6) The list of information must be made public in accordance with the Law on Access to Information and other information must be made public in accordance with the law. (7) Public disclosure of information on the functions, tasks, powers, organizational structure of agencies and units; internal regulations and rules of the Ministry; statistical information on the sector and field of ethnic affairs, beliefs and religions; the content and results of referendums and the incorporation of public opinions on issues within the jurisdiction that are subject to public consultation as prescribed by law; inspection findings; information on recruitment, employment and management of officials, civil servants and public employees; administrative procedures and work processes of state agencies; names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses of agencies and units on the Ministry’s electronic portal.
Information is made public on the electronic portal of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee; through citizen reception, meetings, conferences and activities to disseminate legal education; posted at the office. The timing of information disclosure for each field has generally been implemented by agencies and units in accordance with the provisions of law.
Fourthly, about the provision of information upon request, the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs complies with the law on providing information upon citizens’ requests; it does not provide information that citizens are not entitled to access as stipulated in Article 6 of the Law on Access to Information; and it strictly adheres to the legal provisions regarding information that citizens are entitled to access under certain conditions as stipulated in Article 7 of the Law on Access to Information. Receiving and processing requests related to propaganda, external information and ethnic affairs through written requests from citizens and the online reception system on the Ministry’s electronic portal.
Information requests are primarily made in person at the office or via electronic means, postal services, fax and email. All information requests are responded to promptly, without any delays. The verification and assurance of information confidentiality before provision are carried out in strict accordance with the Law on Protection of State Secrets, preventing the disclosure or loss of state secrets or the provision of information classified as state secrets to unauthorized agencies, organizations or individuals.
Fifthly, about measures to ensure citizens' right to access information, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has assigned focal point officers and human resources to ensure the provision of information access services. The Ministry’s electronic portal is maintained and operated with complete information as prescribed by law. Enhancing the provision of information on the national document exchange platform and on the Ministry’s electronic portal has facilitated the exercise of the right to access information for people living in border areas, islands, mountainous regions and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions. The Ministry has arranged a public reception room in accordance with the Law on Public Reception, ensuring it meets all the requirements of a public reception office. The Ministry's leaders hold monthly public reception sessions, and the civil servants on duty have sufficient capacity and expertise to approach and answer citizens’ questions and requests.
Sixthly, about the list of information that must be made public according to Article 17 of the Law on Access to Information, the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs regularly updates and posts it promptly and fully on its electronic portal to facilitate access for citizens. Regularly hold conferences to disseminate and popularize laws; organize meetings; proactively visit religious leaders, officials of religious organizations, representatives of religious establishments and influential individuals. Through these activities, provide information on the policies, guidelines and laws of the Party and the State.
Seventhly, the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs will coordinate with press and media agencies to provide official and timely information, avoiding inaccuracies and ensuring citizens have access to accurate, open and transparent information.
4. Developing information systems to serve ethnic minority communities
Over the years, the information system serving ethnic minority communities has made significant progress. Newspapers, radio, television and especially grassroots media, play a leading role in conveying policy and legal information to the people. Currently, the percentage of ethnic minority people watching television is 94.19%; and listening to radio is 98.21% (statistics from 32 out of 34 provinces and cities nationwide). Many radio and television programs in ethnic languages are maintained, contributing to improved communication effectiveness.
During the period of 2021-2025, Vietnam Television produced and broadcast 27 ethnic language television programs, including the following languages: Mong, Thai, Dao, Muong, San Chi, E-de, Gia-rai, Ba Na, Xo Dang, Gie Trieng, Raglai, Co-ho, Xtieng, Cham, Khmer, Pa Co-Van Kieu, Co-tu, Cao Lan (San Chay ethnic group), Ha Nhi, Hre, Chu Ru, Cho Ro, Mnong, Tay, Hoa, Ca Dong, Co, Ma and Vietnamese. These ethnic language television programs are broadcast 24 hours a day on VTV5, VTV5 Southwest, VTV5 Central Highlands and VTV5 Northwest.
During the period of 2026-2030, Vietnam Television will produce and broadcast programs in 29 ethnic minority languages (an increase of 2 languages, Co and Ma, compared to the period of 2021-2025); and produce television programs in ethnic minority languages to be uploaded to digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,… in order to provide more ways for ethnic minorities to easily access information.
For radio broadcasting, the Voice of Vietnam is currently broadcasting in 13 ethnic minority languages: Mong, Thai, Dao, E-de, Bana, Gia-rai, Co-ho, Mnong, Xo Dang, Cham, Khmer, Co-tu and Tay - Nung, with a broadcasting time of over 30 hours daily. The Khmer language is specifically organized into a dedicated channel to serve the Khmer people in Southern Vietnam, with 12 hours of broadcasting per day. The coverage area of ethnic minority language radio broadcasts by the Voice of Vietnam has reached 60% of the country’s area and 78% of the population can listen to programs in ethnic minority languages.
With funding from the National Target Program for Socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, Phase I (2021-2025), all levels and sectors have compiled and provided over 2.4 million publications for propaganda and communication to meet the information needs of ethnic minority communities. Developed and distributed nearly 1.1 million publications on popularizing and educating about the law and promoting awareness among ethnic minority communities; held thematic talks with 501,523 participants; provided 61,782 newspapers and magazines; and distributed 40,971 external information products for ethnic minority and mountainous areas... National media channels and state programs and projects on information and communication for ethnic minority communities have contributed to ensuring that people’s right to access information is increasingly complete, timely and equitable. This will narrow the information gap between ethnic minority and mountainous regions and developed areas, creating conditions for ethnic minorities to understand, implement and participate in monitoring the implementation of ethnic policies, thereby enhancing their capacity for self-governance and their position in the development process.
Despite the achievements, ensuring the right to access information for ethnic minorities still faces some limitations. The content and format of information dissemination in many areas are not truly suitable for the level of education, language skills, and reception conditions of the people. Information infrastructure, especially in remote, mountainous and border areas remaining inadequate and inconsistent. The digital divide is increasingly becoming a new barrier, as not all citizens have access to and use modern information platforms. Furthermore, communication methods in some areas remain one-sided, focusing heavily on dissemination rather than dialogue and interaction, failing to fully empower citizens as active participants in accessing and responding to information.
5. Conclusion
The right of ethnic minorities to access information has been clearly established in Vietnamese law and has yielded many positive results in practice. Full access to information sources will help ethnic minorities become more proactive in participating in social activities and contributing to the building and development of the country. Therefore, ensuring the right of ethnic minorities to access information is not only a legal requirement, but also a crucial condition for achieving social justice, strengthening the trust of ethnic minorities and promoting sustainable development. This requires the synchronized and long-term involvement of the entire political system, with a substantive, flexible approach that is appropriate to the specific conditions of each ethnic community.
References
1. Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs (2025), Report No. 3286/BC-BDTTG dated December 31st, 2025 summarizing the situation and results of the implementation of the Ethnic Affairs Strategy for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045.
2. War Zone (2023), 30 years of the spoken and written language of ethnic minorities being spread through national radio waves, https://www.bienphong.com.vn/30-nam-tieng noi-chu-viet-cua-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-da duoc-lan-toa-theo-lan-song-phat-thanh-quoc-gia post469085.html
3. Government (2025), Report No. 901/BC-BDTTG dated October 10th, 2025 summarizing the National Target Program for socio-economic development of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2021-2030, phase I from 2021-2025.
4. Government (2025), Decision No. 2370/QD-TTg dated October 27th, 2025 on approving goals and tasks of strengthening the production capacity of ethnic language television programs in the period of 2026 - 2030.
5. National Assembly (2013), Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
6. National Assembly (2016), Law on Access to Information 2016.
