Four decades of reform and the development trend of Vietnamese administrative law

Abstract

Administrative Law is a field of law that was formed recently and is slowly developing. This field is deeply influenced by the theories and practices of Soviet Administrative Law, and only became a branch of Vietnamese jurisprudence since Đổi mới (renovation). Today, Vietnamese Administrative Law still reflects a transitioning state administration. This article evaluates factors that have affected the development of Vietnamese Administrative Law over the past four decades and then identifies the development trends in this area of law. Through nearly 40 years of Đổi mới, Vietnamese Administrative Law has largely reflected a state administration that served the transition from a centrally planned, bureaucratic, and subsidised economy to a market economy. During the transition period of Đổi mới, Vietnamese Administrative Law has undergone positive reforms aimed at modernising and enhancing the efficiency of national governance. The development trend of Vietnamese Administrative Law is that the law will increasingly demonstrate the principles of the rule of law and protect human rights in practice.