Vietnam has continued to ramp up the fight against corruption and more progress has been made in 2019 with more high-ranking officials facing severe penalties.

CPV chief, State President Nguyen Phu Trong steers the fight against corruption

Since the beginning of the year, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed no exceptions or "forbidden zone" in corruption crackdown no matter the position which the wrongdoer holds. Trong has made this stance clear several times and the latest was at a meeting by the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption in January.

In mid-May, the president chaired a meeting of key officials, demanding the continuity of fights against corruption, noting that top bodies need to uphold vigilance on anti-corruption.

In November, Trong requested prompt handling of serious corruption cases which have triggered public indignation, asking them, by the end of 2019, to complete probing into six cases, prosecute five others, open trials on 11 cases, hold appeal trials on two others, and complete the verification of 17 cases.

Big names that made headlines

In late December, former Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son received a life sentence and his successor Truong Minh Tuan was sentenced to 14 years in jail for violating regulations on managing public assets and taking bribes.

Earlier in the same month, Hoang Trung Hai, a Politburo member, secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee, was proposed to be disciplined for violations in allowing the expansion of a project by Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Joint Stock Company (TISCO) at the time when he held the post of deputy prime minister.

In November, former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh received “warning” discipline for infringing regulations on privatization of state-owned enterprses in 2011-2016 and irresponsible management in 2006-2011.

Four deputy ministers of transport were disciplined for severe violations in the divestment of state stakes from several companies while a deputy minister of finance was disciplined for violating the code of conduct as a state official.

Provincial leaders

The chairman of the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee and Khanh Hoa Party’s chief were all dismissed for involving in violations in land management.

A deputy chairman of the Hoa Binh People’s Committee and former secretary of the Ha Giang Party Committee were disciplined for involving in an exam fraud which took place in 2018.

In the southern province of Dong Nai, the director of the Police Department, two former directors and two former deputy directors were dismissed and disciplined for violations.

Military officers

The anti-corruption campaign has extended its tentacles to the army, which is usually considered a sensitive area. Two brigadiers were dismissed from all positions for making wrong decisions on advancement this year.

Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, former deputy minister of defense and Commander-in-chief of the Navy Forces, and deputy admiral Nguyen Van Tinh were disciplined for their misdemeanors in the management of military land. Hien was probed for his violations.

Determination regains public trust

Former head of the National Assembly’s Office Vu Mao said the Party and State’s strong crackdown on graft has significantly regained public trust in the rule of law.

The settlement of big cases has indicated the Party and State’s determination to fight against corruption which must be carried out in a resolute, persistent and continuous manner and spare no guilty party, President Trong emphasized in a statement.