Orientation of the development of Vietnam financial reporting standards for small and medium - sized entities compatible with the international financial reporting standards for small and medium - sized entities

Abstract

Differences in financial reporting systems for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and large ones have caused plenty of controversies in the last few decades, especially after the introduction of the International Financial Reporting Standards for small and medium sized enterprises (IFRS for SMEs). Bohusova & Blaskova [3] suggested that there existed a preference in many developing countries where the quality of financial reporting was normally considered sub-average for applying the IFRS for SMEs due to strong demand in international economic integration and higher quality financial reporting standards, to which Vietnam is also no exception. Therefore, further research of the IFRS for SMEs in Vietnam is highly desired. This paper shall present a review of concepts of SMEs and the IFRS for SMEs, followed by a comparison of some notable differences between the IFRS for SMEs and the current Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) for SMEs. A summary of many worldwide, mainstream thoughts of the development of financial reporting standards for SMEs is also included. On that basis, prospective proposals for the development orientation of financial reporting standards for SMEs in Vietnam are suggested in order to help Vietnamese SMEs to meet the universal trend of convergence of international accounting.