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Vietnam: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, but online bullying is only partly covered. A regulator can order harmful posts taken down. Some online abuse can be a crime under general laws.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
Vietnam
A 2017 decree makes schools prevent school violence, and parents must register and supervise social media accounts for under-16s.
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One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Yes:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Yes. Decree 80/2017/ND-CP on a safe, healthy, friendly and violence-free education environment requires schools to plan for preventing and responding to school violence.
Legal detail and sources
School violence includes abuse, beating, verbal abuse, insults to dignity, isolation and other acts that harm students physically or mentally.
- Partly:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Partly. The decree does not single out online bullying, but schools must teach safe social media use, and a 2026 ministry directive bans filming and sharing school violence videos.
- Yes:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Yes. Under Decree 147/2024, platforms must remove illegal content at the request of the authorities, generally within 24 hours.
Legal detail and sources
Decree 147/2024/ND-CP, in force 25 December 2024. Accounts must be verified with a Vietnamese phone number or ID number.
- Partly:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
Partly. Since 25 December 2024, social media accounts for children under 16 must be registered by a parent or guardian, who must supervise them. Draft amendments would add further limits.
Legal detail and sources
- Partly:
What are the rules on phones at school?
No national ban. A 2020 education ministry circular lets students use phones in class only for learning, with the teacher's permission. Ho Chi Minh City restricts phones during breaks from January 2026.
- Partly:
When is online abuse a crime?
Partly. Serious insults and defamation, including online, are crimes under the Penal Code; lesser cases bring administrative fines.
Legal detail and sources
Penal Code 2015, Articles 155 (insult) and 156 (slander).
- Yes:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Yes. A September 2025 circular requires schools to plan and provide school counseling and social work for students.
Legal detail and sources
Circular 18/2025/TT-BGDDT.
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