Analysing Corruption in Public Investment in Vietnam: A Multiple-Government Official’s Survey

Authors

  • Jack Ta TQH Lawyers & Consultans, Level 1 550 Lonsdale st, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia
  • To Thanh Nguyen TQH Lawyers & Consultans, Level 1 550 Lonsdale st, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.132

Keywords:

Corruption, anti-corruption, public investment, communist party, Vietnam.

Abstract

Three decades after the Renovation Period in 1986 (Doi Moi in Vietnamese), although Vietnam is a fully integrated member of the globalized capitalist economy, they are still facing several difficulties to anti-corruption as one of the most challenging concerns to communist party and government. Amongst of several types of corruption, our paper using corruption frequency in public investment in the Period 2009–2014 is to examine and evaluate effectiveness and accountabilities of anti-corruption in public investment in Vietnam. They include three main bodies, namely the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam, the People’s Procuracy of Vietnam and the People’s Public Security Forces of Vietnam. Using a survey questionnaire with 150 participants from three those agencies, this paper examines corruption and criminal behaviour in public investment in Vietnam as well as evaluates the effectiveness and accountabilities of anti-corruption in public investment in Vietnam. Current findings show the limited qualifications of anti-corruption officers affected the investigation of cases meanwhile offenders are often high-level and powerful officers that have greatly hindered the investigation of corruption cases in the field of public investment. Yet, lacking transparency in management little information on public investment projects available and its related monitors led to ideal conditions for corruption. Besides that, the provisions on the handling of responsibilities of heads of agencies, organisations or units when corrupt acts occur in their agencies, organisations or units are not yet specific and clear.

References

Ahsan, H., K. Blackburn and E. Haque (2017). Corruption in a Model of Human Capital and Income Distribution. Discussion Paper Series. Economics. Manchester, University of Manchester.

Birdsall, N., C. Kenny and A. Diofasi (2018). What Drives Citizen Perceptions of Government Corruption? National Income, Petty Bribe Payments and the Unknown. Institutions, Governance and the Control of Corruption. K. Basu and T. Cordella. Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan: 285-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65684-7_10

Bradley, N. (2010). Marketing Research: Tools and Techniques. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Bui, H. T. (2014). "Deconstructin the “Socialist” Rule of Law in Vietnam: The Changing Discourse on Human Rights in Vietnam’s Constitutional Reform Process." Contemporary Southeast Asia 36(1): 77-100. https://doi.org/10.1355/cs36-1d

Bui, H. T. (2015). Civil Society and Governance in Vietnam’s One Party System. PhD International Studies, University of Queensland.

Bui, H. T. (2016). "Constitutionalizing Single Party Leadership in Vietnam: Dilemmas of Reform." Asian Journal of Comparative Law 11(2): 219-234. https://doi.org/10.1017/asjcl.2016.22

Cao, T. H. (2020). "Corruption and the Building of a Developmental Government in Vietnam Today: Social and Philoshophical-Ethical Considerations." European Journal of Science and Theology 16(1): 51-68.

Cunningham, W., F. Alidadi and H. Buchhave (2018). Vietnam’s Future Jobs: The Gender Dimension. World Bank Group. https://doi.org/10.1596/30172

Dao, A. V. (2017). Tien La Tien La Phat (Money Is a Powerful as God and Buddha): Investigating the Persistence of Corruption in Vietnam. PhD Public Policy, Victoria University of Wellington.

Davies, N. (2015). "Vietnam 40 Years on: How a Communist Victory Gave Way to Capitalist Corruption." Vietnam 22 April. Retrieved 11 December, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/apr/22/vietnam-40-years-on-how-communist-victory-gave-way-to-capitalist-corruption.

Do, A. T. (2014). "Corruption and Anti-Corruption with Its Related Solutions." 3 May. Retrieved 11 November, 2020, from https://noichinh.vn/nghien-cuu-trao-doi/201405/tinh-hinh-toi-pham-tham-nhung-va-mot-so-giai-phap-294526/.

Gillespie, J. and L. Toan (2018). From Revolution to Evolution: The Changing Meanings of Socialist Land in Vietnam. Social Law in Socialist Asia. F. Hualing, J. Gillespie, P. Nicholson and W. Parlett. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 406-428. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108347822.015

Gracycar, A. (2015). "Corruption: Classification and Analysis." Policy and Society 34(2): 87-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polsoc.2015.04.001

Hanoi National Univerity and Konrad-Adenauer-Stifung, Eds. (2016). Viet Nam 30 Nam Doi Moi: Thanh Tuu va Trien Vong [Trans: Vietnam after 30 Years Doi Doi: Achievements and Perspectives]. Hanoi, Vietnam, Hong Duc Publishers.

Herr, H., E. Schweisshelm and V. Truong-Minh (2016). The Integration of Vietnam in the Global Economy and Its Effects for Vietnamese Economic Development. Geneva, Switzeland, International Labour Office. 44.

Herr, H., E. Schweisshelm and V. Truong-Minh (2016). Vietnam in the Global Economy: Development through Integration or Middle-income Trap? Hanoi, Vietnam, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Vietnam Office.

Hualing, F., J. Gillespie, P. Nicholson and W. Partlett (2018). Socialist Law in Socialist East Asia. Socialist Law in Socialist East Asia. F. Hualing, J. Gillespie, P. Nicholson and W. Partlett. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press: 3-22. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108347822.001

Jenkins, G., M. Miklyaev, S. Afra and M. Hashemi (2017). Prioritization of Public Investment Projects in Vietnam. Development Discussion Papers. J. E. Programs. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, JDI Executive Programs.

Le, H. H. (2020). "Will Vietnam’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Endure Beyong Trong?" East Asia Forum. 29 January, https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/01/29/will-vietnams-anti-corruption-campaign-endure-beyond-trong/.

Luong, D. (2016). "Vietnam Targets Families of Public Officials in Anti-Corruption Drive." News 22 August. Retrieved 11 December, 2019, from https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnam-targets-families-of-public-officials-in-anti-corruption-drive-3456101.html.

MacWilliam, S. and M. Rafferty (2017). "From Development and Grand Corruption to Governance." International Journal of Crime, Justice, and Social Democracy 6(4): 12-28. https://doi.org/10.5204/ijcjsd.v6i4.443

Malesky, E. (2018). The Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index 2018: Measuring Economic Governance for Business Development. Hanoi, Vietnam, Vietnam Centre of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Martini, M. (2012). Overview of Corruption and Anti-Corruption in Vietnam. U4 Expert Answer. U4. Hensinki, Finland, Anti-Corruption Resource Centre (U4): 1-11.

Maruichi, D. and M. Abe (2019). "Corruption and the Business Environment in Vietnam: Implications from an Empirical Study." Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 6(2): 222-245. https://doi.org/10.1002/app5.275

Ngo, T. P. (2017). Corruption in Vietnam: The Current Situation and Proposed Solutions. The Changing Face of Corruption in the Asia Pacific: Current Perspectives and Future Challenges. M. Rama and C. Rowley. New York, Elsevier: 221-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-101109-6.00014-9

Nguyen, H. H. (2016). Political Dynamics of Grassroots Democracy in Vietnam. Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137577764

Nguyen, H. H. (2016). "Resilience of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Authoritarian Regime since Doi Moi." Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 35(2): 31-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/186810341603500202

Nguyen, H. H. (2017). "Fighting Corruption in Vietnam Requires Institutional Reform." East Asia Form. 19 April, https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2017/04/19/fighting-corruption-in-vietnam-requires-institutional-reform/.

Nguyen, N. A., N. M. Nguyen and N. B. Tran (2016). "Corruption and Economic Growth, With a Focus on Vietnam." Crime, Law and Social Change 65(4-5): 307-324. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-016-9603-0

Nguyen, T. H. and M. T. Quach (2019). Vietnam: New Decree Relating to Implementation of new Law on Anti-Corruption. News. Baker McKenzie. Hanoi, Vietnam, Baker McKenzie.

Nguyen, T. T. (2017) "The Party’s Views on Anti-Corruption in the XII Congress." Journal of State Organizational Studies.

Nguyen, T. T. (2019). Corruption Cases and Law Enforcement in Public Investment: A Vietnam Perspective. PhD Law, RMIT University.

Phuong Linh (2018). Anti-Corruption in Vietnam: A Highlight in Comparison to the General Trend of the World. Research-Exchange. General Inspector. Hanoi, Vietnam, General Inspector.

Sidel, M. (2008). Law and Society in Vietnam: The Transition from Socialism in Comparative Perspective. London, the U.K., Cambridge University Press.

Thayer, C. (2008). One Party Rule and the Challenge of Political Civil Society in Vietnam. Seminar of the Like-Minded Donor Countries. Royal Norwegian Embassy. Hanoi, Vietnam.

Thayer, C. (2010). "Political Legitimacy in Vietnam: Challenge and Response." Politics & Policy 38(3): 423-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00242.x

Transparency International (2017). People and Corruption: Asia Pacific - Global Corruption Barometer. Berlin, Germany, Transparency International.

Transparency International (2020). Global Corruption Barometer Asia 2020: Citizen’s Views and Experiences of Corruption. Berlin, Germany, Transparency International.

Tromme, M. (2016). "Corruption and Corruption Research in Vietnam - An Overview." Crime, Law and Social Change 65(4-5): 287-306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-016-9605-y

Tromme, M. (2016). "What Next for Anti-Corruption Research in Vietnam?" Crime, Law and Social Change 65(4-5): 445-458. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-016-9607-9

World Bank (2018). Public Investment Management in Vietnam: Assessment and Reform Priorities for Overcoming the Bottlenecks. Hanoi, Vietnam, Work Bank Group.

World Bank (2020). Overview: Vietnam. Hanoi, Vietnam, World Bank

Downloads

Published

2021-07-02

How to Cite

Ta, J. ., & Nguyen, T. T. . (2021). Analysing Corruption in Public Investment in Vietnam: A Multiple-Government Official’s Survey. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 10, 1136–1148. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.132

Issue

Section

Special Issue: Transnational Crimes in Southeast Asia: A Vietnam Perspective