18 senior officials removed as Vietnam intensifies anti-corruption drive

The figures were presented on Tuesday by Government Inspector General Doan Hong Phong in a comprehensive report to the National Assembly on the nation’s anti-corruption efforts in 2025.

Among the top leaders and deputies disciplined for allowing corruption to occur, 14 received reprimands, while eight were warned.

Phong said that preventive measures against corruption, wastefulness and misconduct continued to be implemented in a coordinated and increasingly effective manner.

The Government Inspectorate of Vietnam uncovered extensive violations, leading to recommendations for administrative action against 1,872 organizations and 6,544 individuals.

Investigators were asked to pursue 236 cases involving 140 suspects.

The Government Inspectorate intensified efforts to curb wastefulness and corruption across major public investment projects.

This included rapid inspections and conclusions related to the construction of the second facilities of Bach Mai Hospital and Viet Duc University Hospital under the direction of the Party General Secretary.

Nationwide, the inspectorate initiated two large-scale thematic inspections: one targeting stalled or problematic projects, and another examining wastefulness prevention in the management and use of state-owned offices, land and properties.

The State Audit Office of Vietnam recommended financial settlements totaling over VND34.6 trillion (US$1.3 billion), along with the cancellation, amendment or introduction of 180 legal documents.

Meanwhile, investigators handled 1,363 corruption-related cases involving 3,187 individuals, and recommended prosecution for 813 cases with 2,044 individuals.

The Ministry of National Defense initiated investigations into 14 cases involving 19 individuals and forwarding eight cases for prosecution.

Prosecutors nationwide reviewed 1,077 cases with 3,060 individuals and resolved 1,041 cases.

Besides, courts handled 1,188 cases, bringing 2,386 individuals to trial.

Civil judgment enforcement agencies reported 10,393 corruption- and economic-related cases requiring execution.

Between October 1, 2024 and September 30 this year, ministries and local authorities conducted 2,034 inspections of compliance with standards and regulations, uncovering 149 violations by 274 individuals.

To prevent entrenched corruption, 8,956 public officials and civil servants were rotated into new positions.

Persistent challenges and priorities for 2026

Despite progress, Phong acknowledged that several preventive measures remain underutilized.

Some cases have been suspended due to fugitives or pending foreign judicial assistance.

Corruption, wastefulness and negativity continue to appear in complex forms across various sectors.

In 2026, the inspectorate will enhance its efforts with a focus on concluding high-profile corruption and negativity cases, strengthening power oversight, preventing corruption and resolving issues related to redundant public buildings and halted projects.

Intensify efforts to track down, arrest fugitives abroad

Hoang Thanh Tung, chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs, called on the government to enhance inspections in key risk areas such as land management, construction, procurement, natural resources, counterfeit goods, labor and healthcare.

He emphasized the need to address redundant public facilities post-restructuring, improve the detection and prosecution of corruption crimes, and strengthen the recovery of illicit assets.

The committee also urged more decisive action to encourage fugitive suspects to surrender and track down them, and to improve the accuracy and timeliness of asset valuation and forensic assessments.