Working as a journalist in Vietnam

I often get emails from journalists and the like who either want to work in Vietnam or visit to work on some story or other, anything from sensitive human rights stories, illegal immigration features to food and travel stories. Here are a few common assumptions about working as a journalist in Vietnam I received this week,

Freelancing is basically illegal in Vietnam, the government will not give you any access unless you are fully accredited.

In order to be accredited, a bureau must be set up by a credible news organisation (and "fees" paid to the foreign ministry).

Journalists MUST be based in Hanoi.

Permission is required by the government every time you want to leave to report outside of your home city.

The whole thing is basically unfeasible.

Can anyone out there - Kay? Julien? - confirm or deny these assumptions? This was always the way I kinda saw it - through word of mouth more than anything else - but has the situation changed any?

Technorati Tags: Vietnam, Vietnamese journalism, freelancing, Asia

Comments

[m@t]

My understanding is also that foreign reporters must also get prior approval from the friendly people of the Ministry of Culture and Information before speaking to any Vietnamese national - and that the interviews are subject to monitoring by an escort.

[Graham]

Ahh good one, yes forgot about that. Also, don't all accredited journalists have to have their stories fed through the censor before they can file?