Legal Reforms and Institutional Transformation: An Examination of Vietnam’s Anti-Corruption Initiative
Quoc Hung Tran , Ho Chi Minh University of Banking
Abstract
This study analyzes Vietnam’s anti-corruption reforms through the perspective of institutional transformation within a Leninist Party-State context. The “Dot Lo” campaign has created a level of political discipline that has never been seen before. It has gotten rid of high-ranking officials, made the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) more legitimate, and improved Vietnam's Corruption Perceptions Index. But there are still structural issues with the legal system. Important legal modifications, such as the Anti-Corruption Law of 2018 and the Penal Code (2015/2017/2025), increased the severity of crimes, made them more visible, and established an economic deterrent model that connected asset restitution to sentence reduction. When it comes to asset recovery, there is still a significant enforcement gap, particularly with regard to illicit income. This is due to the lack of Non-Conviction-Based (NCB) forfeiture procedures and the political control over the enforcement system. According to the report, rather than establishing independent legal accountability, Vietnam's anti-corruption campaign largely seeks to strengthen political responsibility. It concludes that procedures must be revised in order for reforms to endure. This means things like NCB forfeiture, decentralized transparency, and stronger institutional capacity. These changes will help turn political will into real, long-lasting legal effectiveness.
Keywords:
Anti-Corruption Reform, Institutional Conversion, Dot Lo, Vietnam, Anti-Corruption Law
