The move is aimed at ensuring that the popular Chinese-owned app complies with local regulations on content management, commercial policies, and tax payments, said ministry representative Le Quang Tu Do in a statement.

Do claimed that TikTok has recently allowed toxic, false, offensive, and superstitious content on its platform. While TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube are cross-border social media platforms with international standards, when operating in Vietnam, they need to abide by local regulations on content and tax obligations, Do added.

The Vietnamese government requested that TikTok remove 1.7 million videos that violated government policies in Q4 2020. In response, TikTok Vietnam said it would upgrade its guidelines to be more transparent about its rules and enforcement, effective from April 24.

TikTok has almost 50 million users in Vietnam aged 18 and above, according to research company DataReportal, as noted in a separate government statement.

TikTok Vietnam said in an email that this government inspection activity is planned for all companies operating in Vietnam, not just TikTok.