Trần Văn Bang

Trần Văn Bang (born 1 March 1961), also known as Trần Bang, is a Vietnamese pro-democracy activist, blogger, and former soldier. After being arrested in March 2022 for promoting "anti-state propaganda" he was sentenced to eight years in prison by the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City in May 2023.

Personal life During the late 1970s Bang enlisted in the People's Army of Vietnam, serving during the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979. After retiring in the mid-1980s, he trained as an irrigation engineer. He became a member of the Lê Hiếu Đằng Club, an intellectual group who often speaks out publicly on national issues.

Activism A pro-democracy activist, Bang became well known for his posts on the social media website Facebook. He is critical of the Chinese government, particularly regarding its claims over territories in the South China Sea, and the strengthening of ties between China and Vietnam. He has also campaign in support of environmental and human rights. He took part in the 2018 Vietnam protests, where he was assaulted by security forces.