Pham Doan Trang had won the “Prize for Impact” last year, which is given to journalists whose work has led to concrete improvements in journalistic freedom, independence, and pluralism, or to an increase in awareness of these matters. She is the founder of Luat Khoa, an online magazine that specializes in providing information about legal issues, and she edits another, thevietnamese, which also helps Vietnamese citizens to defend their rights and resist the Communist Party’s arbitrary rule.

Trang’s writing covers a wide range of issues including LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, the environment, and democratic activism. Most of her work is published clandestinely including the best-selling Politics for the Common People, which is akin to a guide for fledgling activists, Aljazeera reported.

She is also known for her on-the-ground activism, taking part in rallies in support of imprisoned dissidents, the environment, and in response to China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea.