Building and improving the Socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam has always been identified by our Party as a pivotal task, both strategic in the long term and urgent in the process of renewing and developing the country. Building a State of the people, by the people and for the people, using law as the instrument for establishing national discipline and as the tool to protect the lawful rights and interests of citizens, organizations and the State. This is not only the work of the legislative, executive and judicial bodies, but also a long-term undertaking of the entire Party, the entire people and the entire political system, reflecting the people’s aspiration for a nation.
Building and improving the law, identifying institutions as tools for creating an environment for national development, the Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW of the Politburo on renewing the law-making process and perfecting the Vietnamese legal system by 2030, with orientations toward 2045, affirms clearly: “Improving institutions is a central task of political reform and a breakthrough in national development.” Therefore, Vietnamese law is gradually becoming a reliable foundation for the people. The people increasingly express trust in the law and the State through their compliance and serious observance of the law. Moreover, it is evident that the nation’s momentum is reflected in the aspiration for justice, equality and development within the law. Therefore, Viet Nam Law Day (9 November) this year will take place in the context of the entire Party and the entire people striving to implement institutional reform, administrative reform and social development, together with the robust technological progress taking place within an increasingly improved legal framework.
The improvement of the law with breakthrough and innovative viewpoints, as General Secretary To Lam has emphasized: “Only by renewing our mindset, renewing our approach and daring to do what has no precedent can we take the country further.” This ideology is a profound call to action, affirming that the building of the Socialist rule-of-law State cannot stop at perfecting legal documents, but must be viewed as a comprehensive renewal of thinking, leadership methods, governance and serving the People through law.
At the 10th session of the 14th National Assembly, General Secretary To Lam delivered remarks and exchanged information at the National Assembly hall on several new points and important orientations in the draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Congress of the Party regarding the rule-of-law State, emphasizing: “A rule-of-law State is not merely one that has a complete legal system. A rule-of-law State is, first of all, the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, the control of power, openness, transparency, and accountability before the people”.
To clarify the above arguments, this article focuses only on several core criteria as follows:
First, the Socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam is the refined crystallization of Ho Chi Minh’s thought and the Party’s reform lines consistent with modern trends.
From the early days of national founding, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed: “Our country is a democratic country, meaning that the State is owned by the People.” The idea of a State of the people, by the people and for the people has become the foundation of the victories in resistance wars and of national construction and development in all guidelines, directions and policies of our Party and State over nearly eight decades. On the basis of the idea of a State of the people, from the 7th to the 13th National Party Congress, our Party has consistently determined that the State must be strong to serve the people, that State agencies and officials must operate within the framework of the law, and that the law must be the standard for all activities. Therefore, building a Socialist rule-of-law State is the central task in the process of political reform. The 13th National Party Congress continues to affirm: “Continuing to build and perfect the Socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam of the People, by the People, for the People under the leadership of the Party is a pivotal task of the entire political system”.
To date, the Socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam has been shaped with fundamental characteristics: State power is unified, with assignment, coordination and control among legislative, executive and judicial bodies; the law holds the supreme position in national governance; all organizations and individuals are equal before the law. The law is the foundation of discipline, the guarantee of fairness, democracy and sustainable development, and the tool for protecting the lawful rights and interests of citizens, organizations and the State.
Second, renewing the law-making and law-enforcement work in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW. The law must be built with the spirit of taking the lead, accurately reflecting the realities of life, creating a framework for innovation and promoting the healthy development of the socialist-oriented market economy. Therefore, building and perfecting the law must thoroughly internalize Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW, which clearly sets out the requirement of: “Comprehensively renewing the procedures, methods, tools and mindset in the law-making process”.
Accordingly, it is necessary to improve the quality of policy forecasting, tighten legislative discipline, and strengthen the responsibility of competent authorities in the stages of drafting, appraisal and verification. At the same time, it is necessary to broaden the participation of the people, enterprises, experts and social organizations in the law-making process so that the law reflects contributions and the aspirations of all social strata, and reflects the movements of society. Only in this way can all legal provisions have a practical basis, be fully assessed in terms of impact, be feasible, and be directed toward the highest objective of serving the people.
The law must also become a sharp weapon and a tool for preventing corruption, negative practices and group interests right from the stage of policy formulation. There must be review and honesty from the stage of assessing and perceiving reality so as not to be influenced by group interests or sectoral interests when preparing law-making plans and using national resources for the development of laws.
Third, it is necessary to strongly renew the work of legal dissemination, legal education and legal assistance for the people, enterprises and organizations. Only when the law is communicated and disseminated properly, practically and in connection with the needs of social strata, can the law truly enter into daily life and reflect its penetration into social life as an instrument of justice. In the current context, the law remains multi-layered, complex and not yet easy to understand, easy to access or easy to apply in life, so the channels for conveying the law to the population must be truly linked to their daily lives. Each legal vướng mắc, each dispute or complaint, if integrated with communication, clarification, guidance and dissemination of the relevant legal provisions, will genuinely become a bridge between the law and daily life. Only in this way will the people not merely “know the law” but also “live and act in accordance with the law” - regarding the law as a standard of civilized behaviour and a tool for protecting their lawful rights and interests.
General Secretary To Lam, at the P4G Viet Nam 2025 Conference, emphasized: “Green institutions are the decisive foundation, green technology is the breakthrough driver, and green human resources are the key factor.” The notion of “green institutions” here is not limited to the environmental field, but extends to the entire national development space – a legal system that is humanistic, transparent, modern, and harmonizes development with social equity, and harmonizes human beings with nature. This is the way in which the socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam both fosters social trust and creates momentum for sustainable development on the basis of law and legal-cultural conduct.
Fourth, the rule-of-law State is the foundation of the national aspiration for development – for prosperity, strength, and the well-being and happiness of the people, both physically and mentally. A nation is truly developed only when every citizen is able to live in a fair and safe legal environment, is protected in terms of human rights and citizens’ rights, and has the opportunity to realize their own abilities. The law, therefore, is not only a tool for social management but also a tool to protect the rights and interests of the people in a fair and transparent manner and serves as a “measure of trust in justice” between the State and the People.
As General Secretary To Lam affirmed: “A State and a government that serve the people will no longer be a slogan but will become concrete and substantive actions reaching each citizen and enterprise.” This spirit clearly reflects the determination to build a modern legal system for a rule-of-law State that is “service-oriented, integrity-based, active, and effective,” taking the happiness and trust of the People as the benchmark.
In the era of digital transformation, the application of artificial intelligence and big data in law-making and law enforcement must be regarded as a strategic breakthrough, enabling the State to respond more rapidly, accurately, and transparently to all demands arising from social life and the needs of the people, leaving no one behind. The institutional system must have sufficient capacity to regulate new forms of relationships, protect privacy and data security, while at the same time encouraging innovation, and developing the digital economy, digital society, digital government, and digital citizenship, without any blind spots or gaps.
Building a socialist rule-of-law State is not merely about strengthening the apparatus; officials working within that apparatus must take the law as both the instrument and the benchmark of conduct. Only when citizens come to State agencies as equal subjects can the process of handling their affairs become a process of fostering social trust and creating an environment in which the people, enterprises, and the State share responsibilities, rights, and obligations in accordance with the law.
Fifth, the process of law-making and law enforcement requires the coordinated participation of the entire political system. The success of building the rule-of-law State depends, first of all, on the political will and unified action of the whole system. The National Assembly must continue to innovate the legislative process, enhance professionalism and transparency, and ensure that every law enacted is grounded in the interests of the People.
The Government, as the executive body, needs to focus on perfecting the institutional framework, ensuring that laws are enacted with sufficient basis and resources for implementation. At the same time, it must take advantage of the opportunities of the era to promote digital transformation in State management, build a streamlined apparatus, and cultivate officials who are proficient in civil service skills, well-versed in the law, and possess full moral qualities with a spirit of serving the people, using citizen satisfaction as the benchmark for public service. Especially in the era of global integration, prioritization must be given to adopting and anticipating modern technologies to enhance the quality of service to the people. Multilateral international cooperation, within the framework of international and Vietnamese regulations, must prioritize the long-term interests of the people and the country.
Law enforcement agencies – including investigative agencies, the People’s Procuracy, courts, and other judicial bodies – must take the spirit of protecting justice as their guiding will and belief on the basis of law in order to handle cases in the best manner, improve the quality of investigation, prosecution, and adjudication, ensure that no one is wrongfully convicted or that offenders escape punishment, and strengthen the balance of justice in social life, addressing the situation where citizens fear filing lawsuits because they are not confident of protection. Civil servants and officials must truly be “both virtuous and competent,” possess firm political resolve, maintain integrity in public service, and serve the people diligently. Only when law enforcers respect and live according to the law can the law truly enter into daily life.
The Viet Nam Fatherland Front and political–social organizations promote their role in participating in institutional development, conducting social supervision and criticism, contributing to consolidating the trust and consensus of all social strata in complying with the law.
Building and perfecting the Socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam is a continuous, long-term process that requires political determination, innovation in thinking, and unity in action. It recognizes that the law must be the foundation for ensuring human rights and citizens’ rights, promoting democracy, consolidating social trust, and fostering sustainable development and the well-being of the People.
As General Secretary To Lam stated: “Looking to the future, Viet Nam is rapidly promoting strategic breakthroughs and striving to prepare optimally for development that is both fast, green, inclusive, and sustainable.” With this vision, the Socialist rule-of-law State of Viet Nam – of the People, by the People, and for the People – will always serve as a solid foundation for the aspirations for development and happiness of the entire nation, contributing to the realization of the goal of a “prosperous people, strong country, democratic, just, and civilized society”./.
