Hong Vo

Hong Vo (born 1957) is a Vietnamese Australian social worker from the Melbourne and member of pro-democracy organization Viet Tan who was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on October 10, 2010 for participating in a peaceful political demonstration in Hanoi, Vietnam affirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands. She is being held under Article 84 of Vietnam's penal code, which is often used to charge and convict pro-democracy activists.

Background

Vo came to Australia in 1982 and is currently a social worker for the City of Yarra. She is a single mother of two, and has been active in the Vietnamese community. During the rally which was attended by approximately 70 people, The arrest occurred at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City, as Mrs. Vo was boarding a plan to Bangkok.

While Vietnam has alerted the international community on her arrest already on October 11, 2010, authorities in Vietnam did not confirm the arrest until October 12, 2010. She was held under Article 84 of Vietnam's penal code, which is often used to charge and convict pro-democracy activists.

In a later interview, Vo described that she shared a cell with another prisoner, and was completely isolated from the world. Vo received a visit from the Australian consulate on October 18, 2010.

She returned to Australia after a total of ten days of detainment. From her experience, she comments that "she will struggle to return to the country of her birth after spending 10 terrifying days in a Vietnamese jail."