A government critic and a dissident, he was taken into custody in 2010 on charges of "propaganda against the state" and "plotting to overthrow the communist government of Vietnam".
On 4 April 2011, Vu was sentenced to 7 years in prison for "spreading anti-state propaganda", drawing protests from human rights groups, the Roman Catholic Church, and the international community.
On 6 April 2014, Vu was released from prison and taken to Noi Bai International Airport to be flown to Dulles International Airport, U.S., along with his wife.