Title: Show trial vs. human rights: the case of Vietnam

Authors: Giao Cong Vu; Vinh Khanh Vo; Cu Thanh Vu

Addresses: Department of Constitutional and Administrative Law, University of Law, Vietnam National University-Hanoi, E1, 144 Xuan Thuy, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Law, Graduate Academy for Social Sciences, 477 Nguyen Trai, Hanoi, 10000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Bordeaux, 16 Avenue Léon Duguit, 33608 Pessac, France

Abstract: Show trial - a legacy from the war in Vietnam when court headquarters did not exist - has existed in this socialist country until now. The initial purpose of show trials was 'bringing justice close to the people' and then legal dissemination and education. However, many mobile court cases in Vietnam throughout the years show violations of the human rights of defendants and relevant parties. More and more Vietnamese experts and practitioners are therefore opposing the show trials. The Communist Party and the state of Vietnam, on the path to building the 'socialist rule of law', also seem supportive of abandoning this controversial trial mode.

Keywords: show trial; human rights; defendant; court; Vietnam.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRCS.2026.150553

International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies, 2026 Vol.13 No.1, pp.57 - 68

Received: 21 Sep 2023
Accepted: 15 Jan 2024
Published online: 17 Dec 2025 *

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