Hanoi Court Sets Trial Date for Martial Arts Master Accused of Anti-State Propaganda; Urges Surrender

A Hanoi court has set August 3rd as the trial date for martial arts master Doan Bao Chau, who is accused of disseminating information aimed at opposing the Vietnamese state. The People's Court of Hanoi announced the trial date and simultaneously called for Chau to surrender to the authorities to benefit from legal leniency. Chau, 58, is charged under Article 117 of the Penal Code for allegedly creating, storing, and distributing content that propagandaizes psychological warfare, spreads fabricated news, and causes public anxiety. Authorities state that from 2016 to 2021, Chau created and broadcast numerous videos on Facebook, which were deemed to have anti-state content. During the investigation, Chau reportedly admitted the voice and images in the videos were his but denied any intent to oppose the Vietnamese state. He was declared a fugitive after being indicted and issued an arrest warrant in June 2025, having gone into hiding. Doan Bao Chau is also known for his past as a karate master. In 2017, he was notably defeated by French martial artist Pierre Francois Flores in a match that lasted only about three minutes. The court's decision to proceed with the trial, even with the defendant at large, aligns with provisions in the Criminal Procedure Code that allow for trials in absentia if a defendant is absconding or their whereabouts are unknown.