Conference discusses legal framework to protect transgender people
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) community in Vietnam has faced legal barriers as the law currently only recognises two genders, without any acknowledgement of other gender identifications or of same-sex marriage, said Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, head of the Department of Law under the Ministry of Health.
Vietnamese transgender Nguyen Huong Giang won Miss International Queen 2018 - the world’s largest transgender pageant last March (Photo: Dep.com.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – The lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer(LGBTQ) community in Vietnam has faced legal barriers as the law currently onlyrecognises two genders, without any acknowledgement of other genderidentifications or of same-sex marriage, said Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, head of the Departmentof Law under the Ministry of Health.
Addressing a conference in Hanoi on September 26, Thuy noted thatVietnam is home to some 300,000-500,000 transgender people. In the face ofoppressive social, cultural, and judicial difficulties, they are considered avulnerable group.
Transgender people often encounter discrimination and rejection from societyand their families, and are given fewer opportunities to access employment andhealthcare services, she noted. Even when these institutions are available, theexperience can often be isolating and traumatic.
Thuy underlined that sexual abuse and harassment against the transgendercommunity is particularly high, with 23 percent of those interviewed admittingthat they had been forced to have sex with others, and another 16 percenthaving suffered from sexual violence. At the same time, 83 percent hadexperienced humiliation and degradation for being transgender.
Nguyen Kim Dung, manager of a transgender support programme at theCentre for Supporting Community Development, said that currently, transgendersurgery procedures are not widely available to the community due to theirexcessive costs.
The building of the law on transgender confirmation aims to improveliving conditions and health of the community by observing their righta to liveby their true gender, she said.
The issuance of the law with regulations, in line with the globallyprogressive trend, is the wish of not only transgender people, but alsorelevant service providers, as well as the whole community, said Dung, addingthat once the legal corridor for transgender people is built, they will havechance a better chance of living equally with access rights to marriage andhappiness in a society that recognises them.
At the conference, participants highlighted just some of the many difficulties,obstacles, and barriers facing the transgender community and discriminationagainst them.
They also agreed on the need to build a law on gender transitioning and confirmation,while discussing recommendations from the transgender community towards thebuilding of a legal corridor and legal recognition.–VNA
Actress and film director Kim Khanh recently launched her new project, Hon buom (Butterfly Soul), a documentary on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in HCM City.
The rainbow colours, a widely-recognized symbol of LGBT people, have become popular among Vietnamese and it is not uncommon to see rainbow flags pinned to shirts and on car bumpers in the country.
A series of award-winning movies will be on screen for the first time and free at the fifth Hanoi International Film Festival, which will take place in the capital city from October 27-31.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
Vietnamese transgender Nguyen Huong Giang won Miss International Queen 2018 - the world’s largest transgender pageant last March (Photo: Dep.com.vn) 
