Zing News, a popular online magazine in Vietnam owned by VNG Corp, one of the country's leading digital groups, announced on Thursday that it will suspend its publications for three months

following a government investigation.

The Vietnamese government, under Communist rule, has been intensifying its crackdown on media. It not only plans to restrict social media accounts that share news-related content but also aims to combat the spread of unauthorized news outlets that mislead readers.

In a statement released on its website, Zing News acknowledged the need to address shortcomings and comply with a prime minister's decision from 2019 that outlines a plan for "press development and management." This plan introduced stricter controls on media, including requirements for newspapers to be affiliated with a ministry and a ban on magazines publishing breaking news.

Zing News, a licensed digital magazine, is a subsidiary of Zalo, Vietnam's main messaging app, which in turn is a unit of VNG. The magazine covers various topics, including breaking and daily news. However, the press office of Zing News did not provide immediate comment on the suspension.

The Ministry of Information, responsible for conducting the investigation into Zing News, also did not offer an immediate comment on the matter.

This is not the first instance of a media outlet being suspended in Vietnam. In 2018, state-run Tuoi Tre had to halt its publications for three months due to the dissemination of false information, as stated by the government.

Vietnam's media freedom is ranked poorly, securing the 178th position out of 180 countries in the 2023 media freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, a non-profit organization. The evaluation highlighted the tight control exerted by the ruling party over traditional media in Vietnam, with independent reporters and bloggers often facing imprisonment. Photo by St.Rosenzweig at German Wikipedia.