Corruption Ranking Improves for Vietnam

February 28, 2018 Posted by Vietnam Briefing Reading Time: 4 minutes

By: Dezan Shira & Associates
Editor: Koushan Das

In the latest 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International, Vietnam ranked 107^th amongst 180 countries and territories, higher when compared to the last two years. The improvement in ranking is the effect of Vietnam’s anti-corruption campaign that started in 2017.

The CPI index ranks 180 countries and territories and countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople. The index scores include a scale of zero to 100, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean.

Vietnam’s rankings

Vietnam ranked 107^th in the CPI Index, up six places compared to 2016. The country scored 35 points out of 100 on the index. The country scored 31 during the 2012-15 period and 33 in 2016.

The slight improvement in rankings has been attributed to the government’s anti-corruption drive in Vietnam. The anti-corruption campaign has not only focused on high-level public officials but also leading business executives and bankers. In addition, they have also improved their anti-corruption legal framework, such as the Law on Anti-Corruption, to align themselves further with international norms.

Need to do more

The 2017 CPI Index has focused on three major areas the government needs to work on to improve rankings. The areas of focus include the state, business, and media and civil society organizations.

State

The CPI Index suggests improving the effectiveness of the National Assembly’s oversight role and ensuring independence in adjudication by the Judiciary. In addition, the government’s anti-corruption efforts should focus on areas where a citizen faces the most corruption and bribery issues, such as law enforcement, public health, and education.

The CPI Index also recommends the government to protect whistleblowers, by strengthening the legal framework, which can encourage social participation in anti-corruption.

Businesses

Businesses in Vietnam need to strengthen their internal anti-corruption efforts, especially the state-owned enterprises (SOEs). They should also focus on the integrity of their firms and brands to ensure a sustainable development for better international economic integration.

Media, civil society organizations, and citizens

The civil society in Vietnam should actively participate in anti-corruption efforts by educating themselves about the anti-corruption regulations, increasing transparency, ensuring accountability, and reporting corruption cases.

Going forward, the civil society should also actively exercise their right to access information and ensure that the 2016 Law on Access to Information is implemented efficiently when it comes into effect this year.

Since last year, the government’s anti-corruption crackdown has elevated public confidence, making Vietnam one of the few countries that showed improvement. However, as the index indicates, the public sector corruption in Vietnam is still high and the government should continue to improve its anti-corruption legal framework in 2018 to achieve better rankings.

About Us

Vietnam Briefing is published by Asia Briefing, a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. We produce material for foreign investors throughout Eurasia, including ASEAN, China, India, Indonesia, Russia & the Silk Road. For editorial matters please contact us here and for a complimentary subscription to our products, please click here.

Dezan Shira & Associates provide business intelligence, due diligence, legal, tax and advisory services throughout the Vietnam and the Asian region. We maintain offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as throughout China, South-East Asia, India, and Russia. For assistance with investments into Vietnam please contact us at vietnam@dezshira.com or visit us at www.dezshira.com

‍

Dezan Shira & Associates Brochure
Dezan Shira & Associates is a pan-Asia, multi-disciplinary professional services firm, providing legal, tax and operational advisory to international corporate investors. Operational throughout China, ASEAN and India, our mission is to guide foreign companies through Asia’s complex regulatory environment and assist them with all aspects of establishing, maintaining and growing their business operations in the region. This brochure provides an overview of the services and expertise Dezan Shira & Associates can provide.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017
An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country.

Managing Contracts and Severance in Vietnam
In this issue of Vietnam Briefing, we discuss the prevailing state of labor pools in Vietnam and outline key considerations for those seeking to staff and retain workers in the country. We highlight the increasing demand for skilled labor, provide in depth coverage of existing contract options, and showcase severance liabilities that may arise if workers or employers choose to terminate their contracts.