Thursday, December 30, 2010

Facebook blocked AGAIN in Vietnam?

** UPDATE ** Look in the comments section for a great solution to getting around the block.

I tried to log into facebook, and it seems that the government of Vietnam is trying once again to block it. I'm getting lots of messages from friends and students saying the same. Really, Vietnamese government? Here's my message to you:

Dear Vietnamese government:

Please stop trying to block facebook as there are those of us (foreigners) a long, long way from home who depend on it to stay in touch with our family and friends, and this is a vital avenue to communicate with aforementioned persons. Furthermore, you will be unsuccessful - just like China - due to the inability to block every proxy server (like the one I'm using now). So, yeah, good luck with that!

Sincerely,

Michael
-an American living in this wonderful country (even if facebook is blocked)

36 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

omg i know what you mean. like really they think blocking facebook is going to help them hide their crap from the people in vn and the world???
im a canadian that is here for a few months and miss home and family like crazy and this is the thing they show us.
i use facebook to post up pictures and updates for my mom to check up on me.

December 30, 2010 at 2:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

bro ngu si
you are ngu si, qua ngu si
so ngu si that you dont even know what that means

dont talk shit about the government and write your name.

December 30, 2010 at 4:15 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Yes, I know what that means. And I'm not stupid. I wasn't talking shit about the government; I was stating the facts. I said nothing ill about the government. Maybe you should read again because your English skills seem to be lacking. And don't underestimate my Vietnamese skills. I assure you that they are better than your English skills. Have a nice day.

December 30, 2010 at 5:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ooh, +1 for Mike. Feistyyy.

I agree completely, by blocking FB again..not only proves that the government had failed once before (which more than likely they will do so again), they are making it far too obvious for us citizens to see that they are actually trying to hide something. Besides, the government did this to stop only a few blabbers (not that it's working lol), but hindering the other 95% of the population from communicating effectively and basically enjoy themselves.

I'm Viet.

December 31, 2010 at 10:09 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

haha thanks. Unfortunately, some people come from a bad family who don't teach them not to call people names when they don't agree with something. What can ya do?

From what I've heard, there's some conference next month, and the government is blocking facebook again to stop protests online or something. I don't know how true that is, but that's the word on the street here in 'Nam :)

Thanks so much for your post.

December 31, 2010 at 10:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am a Vietnamese who grew up in California and currently doing volunteer work here in VN. Like you, i miss my friends and family so much and I am very annoyed that facebook is being blocked again after I could finally figured out how to get on.

Really, if the government has nothing to hide, there's no need to block anything. I feel sad for the person who posted the rude comment. After spending some time here in VN and interacting w/ youth, I realized that many of them are not taught to question and think critically about anything. They are still brain washed in schools about to simply accept and follow ideologies that may or may not help the people.

I believe that a healthy country and government allows its people true free speech and express disagreements. Vietnam's political climate is obviously still very controlled and oppressive.

Oh, if you figure out a way to get on facebook again, please let me know.

January 2, 2011 at 2:33 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hi, thanks for your comment.

It's very easy to get on facebook. Just google: Hotspot shield. Download it, run it, then open facebook. I've been using it for almost two years to watch American tv shows that are blocked outside of the country. The only annoying part is every now and again you'll get a pop-up ad. This program is free so the benefits definitely outweigh the small downside of a view advertisements.

January 2, 2011 at 3:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I cannot agree more with you! How can the government believe blocking Facebook will stop the protest; it'll only encourage people to do it more- i mean we're all pissed off now!

I've been going on proxy websites lately to try to connect on FB, although it won't let me comment/ doesn't work properly, any ideas? :/

January 2, 2011 at 8:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Mike,
I downloaded hotspot shield and I'm able to access FB now!!!! Yeah!!!! Hopefully, the gov won't figure out how to block it again. I'm going to let tell my fellow volunteers to do the same. You saved my sanity!

January 2, 2011 at 10:43 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Okay so if you guys could start posting your names, at least, so I can figure out who's who, that would be nice. haha - Too many anonymous posters to keep up with.

Please see my comment above about accessing facebook through hotspot shield. It's like magic and brings happiness to all :)

January 3, 2011 at 8:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Uhh, you're not an under cover VN cop trying to trace down who we are, are you?? LOL. I'm the person who asked and thank you about the hotspot shield.

Dawn

January 3, 2011 at 1:27 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

haha no no, I just didn't know who was whom :)

Glad I helped you out a little! Take care.

-Michael

January 3, 2011 at 2:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I read your blogs today.. n downloaded the hotspots shield.. n tadaaaaa.. I can open the fb again, n can play my favorite games again :D
before my friends suggested me to use lisp4 but it's really slow n can't opened any application.
Thanks so much for your info n very thankful you share it with us..I already told my friend about the shields n they already can open it again..

I am Indonesian n really hate when the fb block LOL

-vina-

January 3, 2011 at 3:38 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

yaye Vina! Glad you are happy with hotspot shield.

Wow! I totally sound like an advertisement!! I don't work for them, but I know how it feels to be blocked and not able to access fb, etc., so I just wanted to share what made me happy.

January 3, 2011 at 3:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Mike,
glad i found you blog and totally agree with your comments, as an ex pat living here i rely, although not depend, on Facebook. It is a great tool for my business and keeping in touch with friends old and new around the world. Was using lisp4 but could not upload pics and what pathetic and stupid timing from officials doing it around the xmas and new year celebrations when its the most important time for us to share. Im sure you and i could rant and rave all day and night about the authorities of the country we reside in and only hope they give up the battle but like Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon I fear we have a long way to go

chúc mừng năm mới

Jeff

January 3, 2011 at 7:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike, so happy to have randomly happened across your website. Am quite technologically challenged but I managed to download/install Hotspot shield, access Facebook and even watch two episodes on Hulu. However, now, I am unable to access Hulu shows--a message appears saying I am not in the US. Has this happened to you before? Sorry for asking you this tech-question but I'm not tech savvy, neither are my friends. Your help will be appreciated. Thanks, MK

January 3, 2011 at 9:52 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hey, Jeff! yeah, lisp4 is a bit chunky and slow. Hotspot works much better for me.

Hi, MK! So glad you found my blog, too - heh! If you get that message about being outside of the US, you have to shut down your browser and hotspot shield, and then just run hotspot shield again. It happens to me sometimes. Just shut down the program and browser and restart again. That should do it!

Happy New Year, guys!!

-Mike

January 3, 2011 at 11:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mike, you should create a website or webpage that has all the different ways that FB can be accessed in blocked areas or create flyers and post them on the streets and coffee shops or something. I wonder if the gov would go after you if you do something like that.

I just read a UN document stating that VN have signed some human rights agreements...but i don't think the gov actually follows through.

feeling like rebelling,
Dawn

January 4, 2011 at 11:19 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Ehh, I'll pass. Besides, in Vietnam, word of mouth is much better than any flyers or posters. It's amazing how fast word travels here. And I don't need any problems with the government. I've built a great life here with my partner so I'm fine just where I am. Now, if hot spot shield is ever blocked, then we'll have a problem! haha

January 4, 2011 at 11:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi Mike.
i've tried downloading hotspot as you said but i think it only works with PC. and im using a mac. is there any other way around???

thanks you
Jamian

January 4, 2011 at 12:24 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Heya, Jamian!
I have no idea about macs, sorry, but lisp4.facebook.com might be a solution for you. You can always google hotspot shield for mac. Sorry I can't help you more.

January 4, 2011 at 12:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Mike!!
that was a fast reply. hahah
pls don't be sorry. you've helped alot, it just sucks with a mac when it comes to things like that.
boy i just checked your blog and realized you guys have so much fun here in vn. i've been here for a year now and is bored in the city because i can't read viet and i don't know how to get around n the funny part is im chinses/viet. hahaha

Jamian

January 4, 2011 at 2:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey Mike!! your the greatest!!
it worked. i did like you said and found HSS for mac. and i got in. thank you very much for your help.

if i can i would love to buy you a beer one of these days. heheheh

Jamian

January 4, 2011 at 2:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Mike. Just downloaded it and it's working well, after stumbling across your blog. I'm in Nha Trang now but going to China next week, so I'll see if it works there too..fingers crossed..not in the Vietnamese sense !
Dave

January 4, 2011 at 10:13 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Awesome, Jamian! Really happy you found something that worked! Hotspot shield should totally pay me commission for all the free advertising I'm doing for them - haha! And, yes, you can surely take me out for a beer anytime. I'm just North of HCMC in Bien Hoa. Quiet, industrial town, but I love it.

Hey, Dave! Awesome! I have friends in China, and HSS is blocked there. People there use other proxy servers to get around the block. It CAN be done. Good luck to you!

facebook.com/michaelstrahan

January 4, 2011 at 11:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

they freaking blocked HSS too!!
ahh i hate them(you know who im talking about)

Jamian

January 5, 2011 at 9:44 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Yes, China did; not Vietnam. Yet. :)

January 5, 2011 at 9:51 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

As of this morning, facebook is unblocked with FPT.

January 5, 2011 at 1:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah it was unblocked for a day or so. but it is blocked again this morning. i dont really understand what their trying to do. but yes HSS is ok now so thank goodness for that.
hey do you know a good shopping site that can ship to vietnam? i can't seem to find anything i need here. and back in canada if my mom wants to send me a package is charge by lb so is very exspensive.

Jamian.

January 7, 2011 at 8:44 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I know! I just tried and couldn't log into facebook. Oh well. Thank goodness for HSS (that's the bright side).

I actually go through friends and family who send me care packages to Vietnam. I don't know of any company who delivers here, but if I find something out, I'll let you know :)

P.S. Add me on facebook haha

January 7, 2011 at 10:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi mike i recently downloaded HSS but it doesnt seem to work. im sure that its connected but when i type in facebook.com it says that the web page couldnt be found. please help me if you can.

January 7, 2011 at 9:23 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hmm.. I dunno. How sure are you that it's connected? Do you see a green, yellow, or red shield icon on the taskbar?

January 7, 2011 at 11:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To the last poster. I had the same problem as the during the HSS installation it ran into problems. Just delete the original program, download and re-install again. This worked for me at least!

To Mike, keep up the good work. All of us expats and Viet Kieu that depend on networking sites to keep in touch need this info.

BTW, I read in a recent time magazine article that China spends $400 million per year squashing VPN's that allow outside access in China. I can't see VN having that deep of pockets to bother even trying. HSS should work well for years to come. When they block it another will pop up to take its place!!

Thanks All

January 18, 2011 at 12:03 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great post! Thanks so much for stopping by!

January 18, 2011 at 4:33 PM  
Anonymous hg said...

I still couldn't log-in to FB with HSS (I'm on a mac). Green light was on and everything. Tried downloading and deleting it and re-installing a few times. Any others having trouble?

January 26, 2011 at 9:15 AM  
Blogger The Pingitore's... said...

got to
http://www.ehow.com/how_5856840_access-blocked-facebook-vietnam.html

and it explains how to do it for a PC but its very simple with mac
go to system prefrences, then internet & wireless, click on network then go to advanced there you will see row of tabs one of them says DNS and type in the new IP which the site gives you, make sure you copy any that are there and write them down for refrence, but delete them and put in the new one. I hope it works for you like it did for me :)

February 17, 2011 at 2:54 PM  

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