In recognition of civil society and independent media, Legal Initiatives for Vietnam (LIV) was named as one of the winners of the inaugural Rising Wave Award on August 25, 2026. The ceremony served as the culmination of the Root & Rise Forum: Ideas to Action Day, held at the Liang Kuo Shu International Conference Hall at the National Taiwan University College of Social Sciences.
The event was presented by the Collective Action Center (CAC). The CAC—a nonprofit organization that aims to foster collaborative leadership for climate and democratic futures—designed the event to bring together changemakers, experts, and emerging initiatives focused on collective action across the region.
Trịnh Hữu Long, LIV’s Executive Director, represented the organization at the ceremony, accepting the award on stage alongside CAC representatives.
Taking to social media shortly after the event, Long expressed his gratitude for the accolade and reflected on its broader meaning for his team and their ongoing mission.
“Honored to represent Legal Initiatives for Vietnam today in Taipei as we accept the Rising Wave Award,” Long wrote on Facebook. “Thank you to @Collective Action Center for this incredible honor! This is a recognition for our team’s hard work and dedication to independent journalism in Vietnam.”
His remarks illuminate the dangerous environment faced by independent media focusing on Vietnamese socio-political issues. Operating outside state-sanctioned narratives requires immense courage, and the award recognizes the tireless efforts of LIV’s writers, editors, and advocates at Luật Khoa and The Vietnamese Magazine.
Long also used his platform to highlight the role Taiwan has played in LIV’s operations. For the past decade, Taiwan has served as a safe haven for the organization, allowing it to function away from the direct reach of domestic censorship and repression.
“I am also grateful the ceremony took place in Taiwan, a shining country that has sheltered LIV for the past ten years and taught us so much about how to fight for and build a free, open, and resilient democratic society,” Long added.
For Legal Initiatives for Vietnam, the award is a celebration of their perseverance and a catalyst for future endeavors. The organization has consistently worked to provide uncensored legal information, human rights reporting, and political analysis on Vietnam. As Luật Khoa and The Vietnamese Magazine continue to champion independent journalism in a landscape full of risk, this recognition serves as a testament to the importance of dedicated reporting, accurate news, and the pursuit of a free press.