[1] An engineer known for being a citizen journalist and social activist, Dieu was arrested on July 30, 2011, at Tan Son Nhat Airport along with Hồ Đức Hoà and Nguyễn Văn Oai upon their return to Vietnam.
[2] During the court case, Dang Xuan Dieu was accused of participating in a training of Viet Tan, a US-based pro-democracy organization to establish democracy and reform Vietnam through peaceful and political means.
[3] Dieu has said of the allegations against him, "I have done nothing contrary to my conscience, so although the authorities may punish me physically and impose a severe sentence upon me, the government is only thereby trampling on the eternal good morals of the Vietnamese nation, which as its affair is a matter for which it must bear responsibility.
"[2] Dang Xuan Dieu's conviction sparked international outcry from elected representatives and NGOs including the Center for Public Justice which described the sentencing as "outrageous lengths that Vietnamese authorities are willing to go to to suppress independent reporting.
Viet Tan's chairman, Do Hoang Diem, also stated: "We would like to thank Professor Allen Weiner, the EU, and every human rights organization and activist who has campaigned for Dang Xuan Dieu.