Update: You can see a page from the alleged memo requesting ISPs to block facebook by clicking here. I can't say whether this is authentic or not. It's been circulating around the web.
Update: Haven't tried this myself, but below are instructions floating around to get around the problem:
Instructions:
1. Click: Start->Control Panel->Network and Internet Connections->Network Connections.
2. Click Properties of LAN icons.
3. Choose "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)->Properties.
4. Use the following DNS server addresses: type: 208.67.222.222 in "Preferred DNS server" and “Alternate DNS server”
5. Click Save or OK
Additionally, I'm hearing complaints that some people can not access Twitter. Anyone else in VN having a problem?
Yeah, it was out for a day but back on now. Some people called Viettel (one of the IPS in Vietnam) and the reason given was some server problem :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear it. One of the service providers was blocking Google News for a while--I think it was a few years--then one day it started coming up again suddenly. This blog gets blocked occasionally when certain keywords get used, but it only is blocked for a day or two then comes back up. I really don't understand Vietnam's method of filtering websites.
ReplyDeleteIt just went off in Da Nang, not accessible here at the moment. I guess we'll see how long it lasts
ReplyDeleteThis morning I was in the south where I could still get on Facebook. Now I am currently in the north in Hanoi and here I cannot get on Facebook...
ReplyDeleteWell, sources all seem to point to: resounding YES, the government did issue an order to block Facebook and several other "subversive websites." Folks from all over Vietnam have contacted me to tell he that Facebook has been unavailable. When asked about the problem, employees of Viettel and FPT, the two companies carrying out the government order, have refused to comment.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise to me unfortunately. When I first read a quote from a government official about the government limiting visas for reasons of "national security and social stability" I knew something was wrong. Here comes the purge...
Wish I could say better things of the surrounding countries. Thailand filters and blocks searches. Now with the current political situation with Cambodia is heating up, filtering of the internet and tv news networks is rampant
facebook down for the past three days in nha trang...
ReplyDeleteA page from an alleged memo has been circulating around the web, supposedly requesting the ISPs to block facebook and other site. Whether the memo is real or a hoax though, I can't say. You can see it here: http://www.muinebeach.net/facebook-directive.jpg
ReplyDeleteSince yesterday not accessible via VNPT in Hanoi
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be going on and off in the past week here in Saigon.
ReplyDeleteyeah, i've been having it go up an down in saigon also..... currently out.... one question tho, is there a particular message u get when trying to access the site, eg. "facebook is blocked by vn govt. -joy!-" or does it just not load (what i'm experiencing)...
ReplyDeletetried logging on today, no luck. just comes up page cant display. (no block message) maybe it is just a server problem that comes and goes. lets see.
ReplyDeleteThe impression I'm getting is that perhaps the ISPs tried to block it per an official request, but then received so many complaints that they tried to unblock it, either nationwide, or region by region, and fouled something up with the DNS servers. That's my working theory anyway.
ReplyDeleteAs for error messages, most of the time it comes up as though its a typical browser error. But I've heard at least one person say they got a "sorry we are experiencing technical problems" sort of message. I guess put up by the ISP on the DNS server? I don;t know. I've never seen something like that before.
There are instructions floating around on how to bypass the problem by routing your connection through another DNS server (see below). The other option is to surf the web through a website that offers an anonymous IP service. This is free and easy--just do a google search for anonymous IP. I don't want to post a link here directly though, as I wouldn't want the powers that be to start blocking a site like that too.
Instructions:
1. Click: Start->Control Panel->Network and Internet Connections->Network Connections.
2. Click Properties of LAN icons.
3. Choose "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)->Properties.
4. Use the following DNS server addresses: type: 208.67.222.222 in "Preferred DNS server" and “Alternate DNS server”
5. Click Save or OK
I've heard twitter is also being blocked now too? Anybody having any problems? What about wikipedia? Myspace?
ReplyDeleteI'm in D2 of HCMC.
ReplyDeleteThe main Facebook site went out at about 10 am this morning. Still down but accessible by proxy.
I've heard the rumours and it has been up and down but only for a few minutes.
same problem in Hanoi.
ReplyDeletevietnamese unofficial news website are also blocked, such as viettalk24.com .
Windows users can, for instance, use Ultrasurf to easily solve the problem (Firefox users may also install the Ultrasurf button add-on )
I am in Can Tho and I haven't been able to get on Facebook for 2 or 3 days. I changed the dns numbers and now I log in fine.
ReplyDeleteIt's not accessible in HCMC right now (I'm in Dist 3).
ReplyDeleteI am in HCMC and haven't been able to access it for last couple of days!!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad if this blocking s for real...it was a way to be connected with family and friends..
As of now at 1400H, FB is still down and has been so for the last 2 days
ReplyDeleteGot blocked in Sapa about 5 days ago, Hanoi yesterday, and in Ninh Binh I can't access it either. the lite-version still works, though. http://lite.facebook.com
ReplyDeleteHey Adam, here's my FAQ on Vietnam blocking Facebook
ReplyDeleteThanks Huy,
ReplyDeleteAccording to my contacts it sounds like facebook is blocked nationwide now.
A post on lonely planet suggested that the reason why access was on and off last week was because isps tried using a variety of software but the licenses were revoked or was too expensive and so access was restored several times before software could be found to cheaply and 'legally' do the job. Sounds plausable.
I live in Saigon and have been using
ReplyDeleteFacebook, uninterrupted and chatting with friends in Hanoi who also have no problems.
I'm sure its a server issue, and not he big conspiracy that everyone is suggesting.
Checked 3 locations in HCMC and facebook was vigorously blocked in all three. In two locations Blogspot/Blogger was also blocked.
ReplyDeleteWhile trying to access any kind of networking/social site was frustrating all over Saigon, I'm happy to report that upon returning home to Phan Thiet for Christmas, everything was accessible in the first place I tried. Funny because Google News was blocked for over a year at the same location. Nonetheless I'm thankful for the Christmas present!
ReplyDeleteHow to Circumvent Vietnam's Firewall to Access Facebook:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vimeo.com/8008123 (English)
http://www.vimeo.com/8365868 (Vietnamese)
Bring Facebook Back – Music Video
http://www.youtube.com/user/BringFacebookBack
Bring Facebook Back – Blog:
http://bringfacebookback.wordpress.com
CNN is finally getting on the bandwagon. See article HERE. There isn't really any new information though.
ReplyDeleteI'm in HCMC and haven't connected with FB for two days. I'll try your solutions to break out of this oppression.
ReplyDeleteLovely. It appears the both Facebook Lite and Facebook Mobile are now blocked too. These were previously available as a work-around for anyone who could not access the normal site.
ReplyDeleteBeen visiting ho chi minh city from australia for the last week and have only been able to access facebook 2 days out of the 8. Became very fustrating when couldn't get in contact with people back home.
ReplyDeletei was back in my home country for one month. came back to saigon for work since Tet. now, my laptop (accessing from apartment) is blocked from facebook. initially, i thought it was due to my Vista OS. seems like i was wrong.
ReplyDelete10 months ago I was still able to access facebook in vietnam, came back from home to vietnam and couldnt access since 2 days ago...is there any other way to access facebook without paying to pay? I'm too far away from friends and family without facebook.
ReplyDeleteHi Olivia,
ReplyDeleteIf you change your DNS servers in your network connection settings, that usually works:
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4
You might have to log off the internet & back on again if your computer doesn't do it automatically after you make the changes.
Thanks for your tutorial! I need to connect to Facebook for business and other stuffs.
ReplyDeletefacebook banned
Im in Vietnam for a month and until about 5 days ago I was using lite facebook, but it was recently shut down by facebook.com
ReplyDeleteOf the few hotels I have been all have had computers that work with normal facebook.com
Im on my way to Cambodia so fingers crossed it works there
I'm at Hanoi. Facebook is not working. I can navigate normally in other pages. So I guess it's really blocked!
ReplyDeleteI'm in Hanoi right now and I can't get to Facebook with a computer, but I can get to it with my iPad and iPhone apps. I'm unable to ping www.facebook.com from the computer, but I can ping m.facebook.com... that's the mobile page for facebook.
ReplyDeleteFrom my iPad using Safari I can open m.facebook.com but not www.facebook.com
So it seems like they are blocking the main site's IP address/domain name.