Hanoi brings back loudspeakers as old-school propaganda methods return to Vietnam

Speakers to be installed across capital for daily pronouncements as government's plan labelled archaic and redundant'

Vietnam's capital of Hanoi is famous for its noise pollution, with the sound of vehicles driving, horns blasting, construction hammering, hawkers yelling and neighbours singing karaoke combining in a discordant cacophony. But if the city government has its way, there will soon be one more source clamouring for ear space: loudspeakers blaring out state proclamations.

The use of loudspeakers harkens back to cold war-era information sharing and propaganda. They were officially retired by the city's mayor in 2017, but started creeping back in a limited capacity during Covid-19.