Vietnam
Vietnam exhibits low performance across three categories of the Global State of Democracy Framework (Representation, Rights and Rule of Law) and performs at the mid-range level in Participation. Over the past five years, its performance has remained stable, with no notable fluctuations. The transition from a communist command economy to a market economy, termed “Doi Moi,” has transformed Vietnam from one of the poorest countries in the world to one that enjoys some of the fastest growth rates in Asia. The country has a diverse lower-middle income economy, with a buoyant manufacturing sector supplemented by tourism and a vibrant agriculture sector.
Vietnam’s political history includes episodes of colonial dominance by various great powers, including China, Japan, and France. In addition, the country has long had tense relations with China, especially in the era prior to Western and Japanese imperialism. Colonial attempts to dominate the country led to the eventual partition into North and South Vietnam in 1954. From 1954 to 1975, the Southeast Asian nation was mired in a war between the communist government of North Vietnam and the U.S.-allied government of South Vietnam. A victory by the North led to reunification in 1976; to this day, the country officially remains a socialist republic with no opposition parties under the rule of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). Continued disputes with China led to a short but bloody war in 1979. Relations with China were not normalized until 1991 but tension remains. As a result, Vietnam has been increasingly pivoting towards the U.S. in recent years.
Vietnam has a poor human rights record and censorship is pervasive. Activists who organize for increased rights and freedoms are frequently detained or jailed. Given the country’s rapid industrialization, Vietnam is also facing significant environmental and pollution-related issues, and prominent environmental campaigners have been suppressed by the government. Corruption remains a significant issue in Vietnam, prompting the government to intensify its extensive anti-corruption campaign over the past decade. In recent years, this campaign has resulted in the dismissal or resignation of numerous high-ranking public officials.
Gender inequality is pervasive and is noted throughout society, including in education, business, and politics. To reduce the drag this creates on the economy, the government has launched the National Strategy on Gender Equality with the primary goal of boosting women’s entrepreneurship. Ethnic minorities comprise roughly 14 per cent of the population and continue to face discrimination and restrictions on their freedom of religion. LGBTQIA+ issues are also a major subject of debate in the country, and Vietnamese activists have recently won some reforms on this front. Currently, the Vietnamese government remains largely focused on economic development, with a goal of making Vietnam a high-income economy country by 2045.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch Rule of Law and Representation particularly amid the government’s escalating anti-corruption drive. It will also be crucial to monitor CPV’s ongoing economic, institutional and administrative reforms, the most ambitious since the Doi Moi era. These political reforms may impact Representation, potentially reflecting a shift toward CPVs increasingly centralized control and a shakeup of the state apparatus.
Last Updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
June 2025
Parliament narrows scope of death penalty
On 25 June, Vietnam’s National Assembly passed an amendment to its Criminal Code that abolishes the death penalty for eight offences, including embezzlement, espionage and trafficking narcotics. The reform will take effect on 1 July and individuals who previously received death sentences will have their sentences converted to life imprisonment. However, the death penalty will remain in place for 10 other criminal offences, including murder, treason and terrorism. Human rights experts have welcomed the landmark legislation but continue to urge the government to abolish the death penalty completely. Although the country does not disclose how many people are awaiting execution, internal prosecutor reports indicate that thousands have been sentenced and hundreds executed in recent years.
Sources: Devdiscourse, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, Vietnam News Agency
National Assembly approves sweeping administrative reforms to merge localities
On 12 June, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a resolution to eliminate district-level administrations and reduce the local government from three to two layers–provincial and communal. The planned administrative reforms take effect on 1 July and will also see the number of provinces and city administrations reduced from 63 to 34. The overhaul is part of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s (CPV) General Secretary Tô Lâm’s broader efforts to improve the country’s political system and economic efficiency through eliminating bureaucratic overlaps and enhancing public service delivery. Political analysts remain cautiously optimistic about the reforms, which may serve to tighten oversight, reduce petty corruption and improve service delivery to citizens. Conversely, they also acknowledge that the reforms may consolidate CPV’s centralized control. Moreover, legal experts note that while the changes may create a more predictable and transparent legal environment, gaps remain in defining jurisdiction boundaries and transferring enforcement mechanisms.
Sources: Constitutionnet, The Diplomat, Deutsch Welle, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, Tuoi Tre
November 2024
New decree tightens internet regulations further
On 9 November, Vietnam’s government issued a new regulation (Decree No.147/2024) for managing internet services and usage. The decree will take effect on 25 December and impose stricter compliance controls for domestic and foreign providers related to online data collection and content removals. Among the provisions, the law requires social media platforms to provide user information to the government on demand and take down content deemed illegal within 24 hours. Users must also use a citizen identification number or phone number before posting on social media platforms. Despite an already heavily regulated online environment, human rights experts note that the decree will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression, privacy rights and internet freedom.
Sources: VOA News, The Vietnamese, Radio Free Asia, Asia News Network
April 2024
Vietnam’s escalating anti-corruption campaign raises concerns of instability
On 26 April, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue resigned over unspecified ‘violations and shortcomings’ amidst a corruption investigation involving a real estate firm. This follows the arrest of Pham Thai Ha, the Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly four days earlier. Vietnam’s long-running anti-corruption campaign has intensified since 2022, ensnaring hundreds of high-ranking officials. Then-President Vo Van Thuong abruptly resigned in March, the second presidential resignation within 15 months. As a result, two of the four highest political offices in Vietnam are now vacant, alongside five of the 18 seats in the Communist Party Politburo. The anti-graft drive has also implicated private citizens; earlier in the month, a court sentenced property tycoon Truong My Lan to death in a USD 44 billion fraud case – a rare verdict for a white-collar crime. Political analysts have expressed concern that recent developments indicate growing political instability in the country.
Update: Vietnam’s National Assembly elected General Luong Cuong as president on 21 October. Political analysts note that Cuong’s appointment represents an attempt to stabilize the system after months of political turmoil.
Source: International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), The New York Times, Foreign Policy, Vietnam Economic Times, Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, CNN
March 2024
Concerns raised over secret directive to curb fundamental rights
On 1 March, a secret order known as “Directive 24” was obtained by rights watchdog, the 88 Project, allegedly revealing that the Communist Party of Vietnam issued a sweeping direction on 13 July 2023 seeking to protect “national security in the context of comprehensive and deep international integration.” Rights advocates note that the nine-order directive includes concerning provisions which urge officials to increase media censorship, prevent civil society groups from getting involved in legislation and policymaking, ban the formation of trade unions, and crack down on foreign influence, among other things. According to Human Rights Watch, the “implementation of the directive is well underway,” with co-director of 88 Project arguing that the directive “heralds the start of an even harsher campaign against human rights activists and civil society groups.” The government issued a statement saying that Vietnam remains “committed to its international commitments, including those in trade and human rights.”
Sources: Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, NPR, BBC News, The 88 Project, VOA
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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024
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