Extra Bio Info:

Cao Thi Cuc was imprisoned for her religious activity and expression.

On May 12, 2022, authorities arrested Cao Thi Cuc, a member of the THIÊN AM BÊN BỜ VŨ TRỤ (TABBVT) Buddhist Monastery (also known as Tinh That Bong Lai and Thien Am at the Edge of the Universe), an independent Buddhist community, and charged her with “abusing democratic freedoms” (Art. 331/2015 VCC).  In January 2022, other members of the monastery were questioned and arrested after authorities accused them of taking advantage of religion and philanthropy for their own personal benefit. A complaint against the monastery was reportedly submitted by the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the state-backed religious entity, and Thich Nhat Tu, a member of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam’s board of directors.

On June 9, 2022, Cuc was formally indicted, with authorities accusing her and others of creating videos and authoring an article insulting to the Duc Hoa District Police, the Buddhist Church of Vietnam in Long An province, and Thich Nhat Tu.

On July 21, 2022, the Duc Hoa District People's Court sentenced Cuc to three years in prison. 

In late 2022, an appeals court reportedly upheld Cuc's sentence.

On January 12, 2025, Cao Thi Cuc was released from prison.

Related Cases: Le Tung Van, Le Thanh Trung Duong, Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen

Extra Bio Info:

Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

On January 4, 2022, authorities searched the THIÊN AM BÊN BỜ VŨ TRỤ (TABBVT) Buddhist Monastery (also known as Tinh That Bong Lai and Thien Am at the Edge of the Universe), an independent Buddhist community, taking into custody several individuals for questioning, including Le, a monk. Following questioning, Le was arrested.

On January 7, 2022, authorities announced that Le and other monks were officially charged with “abusing democratic freedoms” (Art. 331/2015 VCC) after the monastery was accused of taking advantage of religion and philanthropy for their own personal benefit. At the time of their arrests, authorities had also reportedly charged them with incest and fraud as well, but these charges were later dropped.  A complaint against the monastery was reportedly submitted by the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the state-backed religious entity, and Thich Nhat Tu, a member of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam’s board of directors.

On June 9, 2022, Le was formally indicted, with authorities accusing him and others of creating videos and authoring an article insulting to the Duc Hoa District Police, the Buddhist Church of Vietnam in Long An province, and Thich Nhat Tu.

On July 21, 2022, the Duc Hoa District People's Court sentenced Nguyen to four years in prison. 

In late 2022, an appeals court reportedly upheld Nguyen's sentence.

In May 2025, Le was also sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for fraud, though his sentence was later reduced to eight years.

Related Cases: Le Tung Van, Le Thanh Trung Duong, Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, Cao Thi Cuc, Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen

Extra Bio Info:

Le Thanh Trung Duong is imprisoned for his religious activity and expression.

On January 4, 2022, authorities searched the THIÊN AM BÊN BỜ VŨ TRỤ (TABBVT) Buddhist Monastery (also known as Tinh That Bong Lai and Thien Am at the Edge of the Universe), an independent Buddhist community, taking into custody several individuals for questioning, including Duong, a monk. Following questioning, Duong was arrested.

On January 7, 2022, authorities announced that Duong and other monks were officially charged with “abusing democratic freedoms” (Art. 331/2015 VCC) after the monastery was accused of taking advantage of religion and philanthropy for their own personal benefit. At the time of their arrests, authorities had also reportedly charged them with incest and fraud as well, but these charges were later dropped.  A complaint against the monastery was reportedly submitted by the Buddhist Church of Vietnam, the state-backed religious entity, and Thich Nhat Tu, a member of the Buddhist Church of Vietnam’s board of directors.

On June 9, 2022, Duong was formally indicted, with authorities accusing him and others of creating videos and authoring an article insulting to the Duc Hoa District Police, the Buddhist Church of Vietnam in Long An province, and Thich Nhat Tu.

On July 21, 2022, the Duc Hoa District People's Court sentenced Duong to four years in prison. 

In late 2022, an appeals court reportedly upheld Duong's sentence.

Related Cases: Le Tung Van, Le Thanh Hoan Nguyen, Le Thanh Nhat Nguyen, Cao Thi Cuc, Le Thanh Nhi Nguyen