[3] Hoá has been active in assisting families affected by the 2016 Vietnam Marine Life Disaster, caused by the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Plant in April 2016.
[7] Hoá was later sentenced to seven years prison in a one day trial charged under Article 88 of the Vietnamese Penal Code for "conducting propaganda against the state".
[9] Committee to Protect Journalists's senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin stated that “Vietnam should stop treating journalists like criminals and Nguyễn Văn Hoá should be freed immediately, and without charge.”[4] Brad Adams, Asia Director of Humans Rights Watch, condemned the arrest and stated that “Vietnam’s international donors and trade partners should tell the government loud and clear that they will reassess their relationships if it keeps throwing peaceful critics in prison.”[2] Hoá’s case was also mentioned by Australian Members of Parliament including Chris Hayes who has “made a commitment to publicly condemn blatant violations of human rights” and Dr Anne Aly who called the arrests “extremely concerning and an act of harassment and intimidation.”[10] To mark World Press Freedom Day, more than 25 international digital and human rights groups released a statement on May 3, 2017 regarding Nguyễn Văn Hoá’s detention.
Repressing citizen journalists is not only a violation of human rights but also a major impediment to Vietnam’s aspirations to become a tech and innovation hub.
"[11] The European Union Parliament passed a motion for a resolution of freedom of expression in Vietnam, with a notable mention of the case of Nguyễn Văn Hoá in December 2017.