Vietnam accused of aiding Myanmar junta crimes

Vietnam’s decision to host Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has drawn sharp condemnation from Justice For Myanmar, which says Hanoi is deepening its complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The visit, held from 4 to 6 September, saw Min Aung Hlaing meet President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, while attending a Myanmar–Vietnam business forum. For critics, the trip symbolises Vietnam’s willingness to strengthen defence and economic ties with a regime accused of mass atrocities.

At the centre of the controversy is Mytel, Myanmar’s fourth telecom operator, jointly owned by Viettel Global Investment, the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and local cronies. Justice For Myanmar says Mytel has funnelled hundreds of millions of dollars to the military while serving as a surveillance tool. Towers built on army bases, fibre optic links with the signals directorate and firewalls enabling real-time tracking of users have turned the company into a pillar of the junta’s digital dictatorship.

Mytel’s profits are significant. Confidential projections suggest MEC could receive more than US$700 million in dividends over a decade. Despite overdue loans of US$375 million, Viettel Global recently approved participation in Mytel’s spectrum auction, signalling continued commitment.

Vietnamese firms have also been linked to the junta’s aviation fuel supply chain, which sustains indiscriminate airstrikes on civilians. Amnesty International found Hai Linh Co. Ltd. used its Cai Mep terminal to transship fuel to Myanmar. Other companies, including Allsea Management and Legendsea, are tied to vessels delivering shipments. Meanwhile, OSB Investment and Technology JSC has supplied satellite communications equipment to the military since 2014.

Justice For Myanmar argues these ties amount to direct support for atrocities. “Vietnam must stop backing a military junta that is slaughtering civilians, committing rape and sexual torture, causing mass displacement and destabilising the region,” said spokesperson Yadanar Maung. The NGO is calling for sanctions against Viettel Global, Mytel and associated companies.

Vietnamese media framed the visit as part of efforts to deepen political trust and elevate defence cooperation to a “pillar” of bilateral relations. For Min Aung Hlaing, it was another step in a diplomatic offensive to gain legitimacy after assuming the presidency earlier this year through elections widely dismissed as a sham.

By receiving him as a head of state, Vietnam has placed itself at odds with Western governments that have sanctioned Myanmar’s military conglomerates. Observers say Hanoi’s stance reflects a pragmatic calculation: protecting investments and strategic ties, even at the cost of international criticism.

For Myanmar’s opposition and human rights groups, however, the message is clear. Vietnam’s engagement is not neutral diplomacy but active complicity in a brutal campaign that continues to devastate civilian lives.

-2026-09-08