Vietnam judicial and anti-corruption reforms

Vietnam is undergoing judicial and institutional shifts aimed at restructuring criminal investigations and enhancing anti-corruption efforts.

Minister of Public Security Lương Tam Quang proposed amending the Law on Organization of Criminal Investigation Agencies to the 16th National Assembly. The proposal suggests discontinuing the investigative agency under the Supreme People’s Procuracy and transferring its authority to the People’s Public Security and the People’s Army. Other proposed changes include abolishing district-level Police Investigation Agencies and granting the Ministers of Public Security and National Defence greater power to organize and assign investigative duties within their respective sectors.

In parallel, the State Audit Office, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Supreme People’s Procuracy have moved to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation to combat corruption and wastefulness. Officials highlighted the rise of sophisticated methods, such as the formation of “interest groups” and the use of “backyard” firms to manipulate policy and bidding processes. Since 2020, economic crime police have initiated proceedings in over 3,700 cases involving approximately 8,900 suspects, resulting in asset recoveries exceeding 600 trillion VND.