Vietnam proposes Bidding Law amendments to curb procurement violations

Vietnam is drafting amendments to its Bidding Law to address systemic risks and corruption in the procurement process. The revisions aim to move beyond merely shortening procedures and accelerating disbursement to actively preventing violations such as bid-rigging, unauthorized subcontracting, and mismanagement of quality and progress.

According to Van Trong Duan, Deputy Director of the Bidding Management Department under the Ministry of Finance, the draft law focuses on decentralization paired with increased oversight and accountability. A key strategic shift involves moving from a process-based pre-inspection model to a risk-based post-inspection model utilizing data and results.

The proposed changes seek to ensure management covers the entire lifecycle of a project, from preparation and contractor selection to contract signing and execution, addressing gaps where violations often occur after a contractor has been legally selected.