Comments on: FAQ on Vietnam block of Facebook

By: AB

AB — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:05:46 +0000

VN is growing beautifully and is truly a great country. It is great to be able to see it develop first hand living here 8 years as an expat, but folks, I hate to tell you it is still a very state controlled government. If the government announces to the people they blocked Facebook, they are admitting they need to answer to the people…which on matters not relating to life or death…they don’t.

The real question should be raised at these pin heads that are still fighting the VN/America war. It is over guys. Support the government. They have brought the standard of living up 100X or more for most VN Nationals. In other words, other than a little paranoia from Facebook they have done a pretty good job.

Being without Facebook for a fortnight is probably a good thing anyway. You will have plenty of catch up time in the airport lounge in HK or BKK. Enjoy Vietnam.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:38:44 +0000

I’ve been visiting Vietnam for 1 week already, and I still haven’t been able to log on Facebook. This is bullshit. Even going on this website to read this article is blocked. It transferred me over to cuocsong.net or something like that. I had to use Google cache to go on this website.

By: josh

josh — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:59:52 +0000

vietnam has laws, the laws might be shit but thats a different topic. my point is that on facebook they not only had anti vn government groups but even it was an advertisment. something about free ngyuen …. i tried to delete these adverts but they kept showing up. i contacted facebook and said if you dont remove this ads facebook will get blocked. they didnt listen. these ads and groups are against vn law, so ofcourse it had to be blocked. if you want to fight the vn government and its laws thats your choice but understand blocking facebook is the correct action.

By: James

James — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:14:04 +0000

Try a proxy server

http://technicalbliss.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-use-free-proxy-with-firefox.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135982

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:05:29 +0000

tried all ways still block grrrrr…..any solution? please help.

By: Khoi

Khoi — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:01:13 +0000

yah, it’s depressing. They are not blocking pornographic over here though.

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 08:20:44 +0000

Has Facebook changed their IP addresses? Had hardcoded the IP addresses but it stopped working a few days ago.

By: John LaBrie

John LaBrie — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:36:53 +0000

Hello,

I’m a Canadian living in Hanoi. I came across this article when I was trying to find out why I cannot access facebook anymore. Unfortunately at this time, even the workarounds don’t work anymore – google and open DNS, facebook lite, it’s all been blocked.

What shocks me most are 3 things:
(1) The Vietnamese government doesn’t even inform its people about the block, it’s all only a speculation. How is it that people don’t know what the government is doing? This could be very dangerous, if someone in the government decided to do something bad, and the people were not informed about it. Because history shows us what happens when bad people get in a position of unrestrained power – for example Hitler. In any case, the people should at least be informed about the new laws.

(2) Facebook being blocked is ridiculous. What is the reason? It’s not a bad site – not pornographic or anti-government. It’s a social network. The only reasons I can think of for blocking facebook are bad reasons, done by bad people. Maybe someone who wants to compete with facebook wants to eliminate the competition in Vietnam, and paid the big ISPs to block facebook. In any case, bad people should be exposed and punished.

(3) I don’t understand why people in Vietnam don’t do something about this. They use workarounds (as long as they work) but don’t address the problem directly. If this happened in Canada, it would be on every TV channel, in the news and people would demand an answer from the government. They would put the government under so much pressure that something would have to be done. People would get fired for this, for sure. But unfortunately in Vietnam it seems that people don’t have the guts to stand up to injustice, and just try to find a way around the problem instead of dealing with the problem itself.

Luckily in July I’m going back to Canada so I’ll have unrestricted access to anything I want. Including facebook.

By: jojo

jojo — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:04:02 +0000

well, i can’t even log in from my iphone.. THIS SUCKS!! anyone has ideas of how to get around either from phone or mac? PLEASE!!!!!

By: pissedoff....

pissedoff.... — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:30:13 +0000

you have to be kidding me…i just got to vn and open dns doesn’t work…..

By: Mac

Mac — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:47:18 +0000

Open DNS has been working in HCMC on VNPT but suddenly a couple of days ago it stopped working. I can get the Facebook mobile on my mobile phone but not from my laptop on the same system. I can use a proxy server but this doesn’t allow me to post comments of status. Obviously we need a new workaround. Any ideas?

By: missvii

missvii — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:52:53 +0000

so im vacationing and the first 2 weeks i used the open dns it worked
now it isnt

By: Snelgroven

Snelgroven — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 02:12:12 +0000

The authoritarianism of the state is used in commerical battles, including on line. (‘We shut you down in the name of the state and the name of state security’). The battles are between commercial factions within the state. A simple Google search will not, in recent months (it is now early June) turn up Facebook or, for another instance, ‘China’s fear of the Internet’. State development policy is diametrically opposite in direction to state political policy. The first is for unbridled dealing, using, for example, ‘lobbying’, which is defined as the use of money to buy advantage. The second is to head for ‘communism’, via ’socialism’, ‘bypassing capitaism’.

By: Newage

Newage — Sat, 29 May 2010 07:06:46 +0000

Dylan: Although this ban and many of the government bans going around lately are shameful and and even unnecessary being that most of the time they have mistaken reasoning, it is Not Communism that causes this. In fact, true Communism does not exist. Vietnam is just run by a group who lable themselves Communist. The literal meaning of communism is “no state”; simply having this group of leaders is paradoxical to what communism is.

By: Dylan

Dylan — Tue, 18 May 2010 12:51:28 +0000

I hate communism.

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:47:54 +0000

Facebook.com works for me on FPT (IP 69.63.181.11) and Viettel (69.63.181.11) using standard DSL modems.

By: ThoaiOnline

ThoaiOnline — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:27:33 +0000

Have noticed that RMIT received official notification from authority not long after this FAQ.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:17:43 +0000

hmm….I am getting a filtered error today and have my DNS hard coded. Thinking FB may have changed them again. What numbers are you guys using?

By: Slammy

Slammy — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:49:12 +0000

I’m having no problems at all getting on now… other than apps/games are still a bit slow loading. I’m sure its an ISP issue now.

By: Juanelo

Juanelo — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:40:30 +0000

Actually it seems that they have started to block the Facebook’s IPs.

The main page works without problems, but the login.facebook.com does not. And that is needed for login on, obviously
I’m using the Google DNS 8.8.4.4 and I can resolve correctly the URL, then I can ping it and it replies me. But then, when logging in Facebook, it fails while trying to access login.facebook.com

So i guess they are blocking HTTP traffic from Facebook’s servers.

¿Any other thoughts about this?

By: Slammy

Slammy — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:46:44 +0000

Here is my take on it. If you can put in the IP address and it works… its not being blocked. Do you really think that if they wanted the site blocked they would leave IP addresses open? They would block IP address DNS. The reason that photos get stuck uploading is the same reason that you cannot stream video with out it buffering every 5 seconds. The ADSL line and servers cannot handle the traffic. Try uploading photos after midnight and you will see that it goes a lot faster and you can also log into facebook without the IP address or a proxy site/server.

By: Harry

Harry — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:56:21 +0000

Been having trouble for weeks, but hardcoding the IP addresses’ worked easily(I am not computer literate!)… Only problem now is uploading photos..keeps getting stuck halfway through “confirming data”..could this also be blocking or just some sort of virus.?…

By: PM

PM — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:23:44 +0000

YEah good advice, I was over in Vietnam recently with my wife and i just went via the work VPN and set a route to facebook. It’s a real shame people can’t jsut talk to each other. It’s just paranoia that makes governments act like this.

By: Slammy

Slammy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:40:25 +0000

For the past two weeks I have not had much of a problem getting on. It is intermittent at times… now mostly I have a problem getting on app/games. Back in late August early September, there were connection issues. The page at times didn’t load correctly and I would have to reboot my computer, sometimes twice, two get the page to come up. I really don’t believe that the government is the issue but I could be wrong. My gut feeling is that there is either too much traffic to the site at times and its more an issue with the ISPs. Do you really think that an ISP is going to admit that their servers can’t handle the traffic or has problems?

By: an onymous

an onymous — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:10:16 +0000

today is 15th january 2010 and they’ve just blocked facebook where i live in hcmc – i am in danger of being put to prison just by writing this message ! im scared

By: Vu Dinh

Vu Dinh — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:28:28 +0000

It’s rare to see another Vietnamese fellow who is so fluent in his command over English and yet has such penetrating knowledge of computer science, and e-marketing! Really a pleasure to meet you!

By: FB Hater2

FB Hater2 — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:51:25 +0000

Super size me baby!

By: JTU

JTU — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:14:57 +0000

I am having problems accessing Facebook today, for a few hours now. Is the ban on again?

By: Minh T. Nguyen

Minh T. Nguyen — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:33:30 +0000

Check out our new music video “Facebook Back” starring Trinh Hoi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LdxnVgI-wk

Also check out our “How to Circumvent Vietnam’s Firewall to Access Facebook” videos (based on this great FAQ):
http://www.vimeo.com/8365868
http://www.vimeo.com/8008123

By: Mai

Mai — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 04:39:57 +0000

hello, VNPT has blocked Open DNS and a bunch of other public DNS and it’s quite impossible to get on Facebook there. Is there a way?
I get in at work fine (through OpenDNS using FPT), but VNPT seems to have more ways of blocking a lot of things.
Perhaps you guys have a new DNS I can use for VNPT? Any help appreciated!

By: Jason Hughes

Jason Hughes — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:23:31 +0000

As of 2009 DEC 19 using WiFi from KFX (an FPT connection) Facebook is working.

By: Elise

Elise — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:39:22 +0000

Starting 14/Dec,2009 FB some games have been blocked in Vietnam.

“The requested Web page is categorized as “games” and has been blocked by Web Content Filter. Please contact your system administrator for further information.”

What is going on, who should we contact?

By: on Vacation

on Vacation — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:05:41 +0000

As of 13 December it is blocked. It doesn’t say blocked, it just says page not found. The did mess with the DNS. The Facebook app on my iPhone works just fine. My proxy program Anchor__ee works just fine too.

By: Z

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:05:18 +0000

Hey Huy, I guess you might want to update this page following the announcement from RMIT Vietnam

By: Jason Hughes

Jason Hughes — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:46:24 +0000

I live in the Highlands and the site is visible on VNPT.

Recently I was a witness to a automobile accident and posted the film on YouTube. When I was at the Highway Police (CSGT) provincial office they asked to play the clip on their computer terminal. Whilst they were messing around I took the opportunity to look at a few other sites I know were blocked – all were visible.

When there are civil disturbances hereabouts we have ‘technical problems’ which were affecting our business and cured by installing a satellite InterNet service (unlicensed).

Oh, Park Hyatt has access to several closed sites including FB.

Be thankful that VietNam isn’t like China, compared to them we are living in an open access world.

By: FB Hater

FB Hater — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:01:16 +0000

Facebook sucks.

By: TimeTraveller

TimeTraveller — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:42:47 +0000

OpenDNS still works today…Thanks to you! so I can keep my restaurant in the business(in CafeWorld).

By: Joseph

Joseph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:11:08 +0000

Thanks Huy. Most comprehensive article to date. Appreciate the effort.

By: smiley

smiley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:41:19 +0000

d’you think this has anything to do with the currency devaluations announced this morning? Or are they both symptoms of a larger malaise?

By: Réim

Réim — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:08:55 +0000

I don’t think so. No one is stupid, eventually the government.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:49:01 +0000

ULTRASURF SHOWED UP AS A REPORTED ATTACK SITE ON MY MAC !!
Careful!!

By: Beagle

Beagle — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:57:41 +0000

Proxies and OpenDNS which used to work are some how not working this morning.

I was happy to be leaving China for a new posting in Saigon and this has to happen to me. Troi oi!

By: Chan

Chan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:19:56 +0000

have you read the news from bbc? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8370762.stm the government guys denied blocking facebook.

By: Julie Gouin

Julie Gouin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:22:09 +0000

Try this program: http://www.ultrareach.com/
It’s the only thing that worked for me! Proxies are too slow or don’t allow javascript.

By: KBS

KBS — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:35:26 +0000

Mmm… I’m having trouble accessing Facebook, even though I’m using OpenDNS. Have they switched to actual IP blocking? This would be quite sad.

On the bright side, the “lite” version still works, but I imagine not for long.

Oh, my provider in this case is VDC.

By: No Can Bo

No Can Bo — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:27:37 +0000

I believe you have to say that FB is BS because if you oppose the government you will be thrown in jail or beaten and that a large percentage of “VN not caring about the propaganda” is because you really don’t have a choice.

By: Michel

Michel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:31:48 +0000

Facebook censorship by VN authorities will probably give a very bad image of VN government to the international community.

I’m sure that consequences of this blocking will impact VN also economically.

Just think about people looking for a job or promoting their events using Facebook.

By: NT

NT — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:12:29 +0000

It’s sad but true. But I believe who really wants to get in touch with the world will find the way. It’s typical Vietnamese government behavior, if they cannot control anything, they will ban it. Those rats are too chicken, the more they show their “controlling power”, the more fears they reveal to the world.
All foreigners who want to invest in Vietnam will need to rethink

By: Alberto

Alberto — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:50:22 +0000

Huy, la agencia EFE de noticias españolas ya se ha hecho eco del incidente y la noticia aparece en la página principal de la sección de Tecnología de los principales periódicos digitales, como el Pais o el Mundo.

By: Nico

Nico — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:18:19 +0000

Nice report,
Some funny comments there (Ho Chi Minh rofl)
I agree that facebook is not a real danger for the country.
Maybe we’ll have to get back to writing letters and meeting each other to exchange information…
I already started a fire to be ready to send out some smoke signals