Combating corruption in Vietnam: a commentary

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the causes and circumstances of what has become systemic corruption in Vietnam, and the reasons why the moves taken by the regime to combat it have been largely ineffective so far. Design/methodology/approach – The paper offers a commentary based on published secondary sources. Findings – The paper concludes that the immediate prospects for any substantial reduction in the level of corruption in Vietnam appear to be bleak. Endemic corruption, especially in the form of elite rent-seeking, is likely to remain strong. However, the paper sketches two more possible scenarios on anti-corruption prospects in the country for the intermediate future. Originality/value – The paper relies on secondary sources in providing a macro-level discussion of corruption in Vietnam.