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Key Events

New Party Rules Signal Strategic Shift of the Communist Party of Việt Nam (CPV) Việt Nam Cracks Down on Counterfeit Goods as Enforcement Intensifies CPV Restructures Fatherland Front and Mass Organizations Ahead of Constitutional Reforms State Bank Calls for Criminal Probe into Gold Market Giants Over Price Manipulation CPV Restructures Its Organization Ahead of the 14th National Congress General Secretary Tô Lâm has signed and issued Regulation No. 294, introducing key revisions to implementing the Communist Party of Việt Nam’s charter. The new regulation will take effect on July 1, 2025.

One of the most notable changes is the elimination of the district-level (huyện) party organization. Under the revised structure, the party will now operate with only three organizational levels: central, provincial (including municipalities), and grassroots (communes, wards, and special administrative zones). This restructuring aligns the party’s hierarchy with Vietnam’s new two-tier local governance model, which also takes effect on July 1.

Although the Party Charter stipulates that only the National Party Congress can formally amend the Charter’s contents, Regulation No. 294 reflects adjustments in implementation rather than fundamental charter revision.

Another significant pilot reform will test holding party congresses at all levels once every five years—replacing the longstanding practice of convening them twice per term. If adopted broadly, this change could reshape the rhythm of political activities across the party's more than 5.6 million members.

Party members are currently distributed across various levels of party organizations, including provincial committees, grassroots cells, and units embedded in state agencies, sectors, and public institutions. These organizations serve as the Party's political nuclei, tasked with ensuring the Party's comprehensive leadership across all areas of economic and social life.

Regulation No. 294 comes amid a broader effort by the CPV to streamline its internal apparatus in preparation for its 14th National Congress. Scheduled for early 2026, this congress is expected to set Vietnam’s political and developmental agenda for the next five years.

According to General Secretary Tô Lâm, the upcoming round of grassroots congresses in 2025—covering the 2025–2030 term—marks "a major and wide-ranging political exercise throughout the party and the people," laying the groundwork for the national congress.

The party’s organizational restructuring signals a continued push for tighter central control and streamlined governance amid internal leadership transitions and growing demands for institutional efficiency.

Under Global Scrutiny, Việt Nam Cracks Down on Fake Luxury Goods Việt Nam is ramping up efforts to combat the sale of counterfeit products, with a major enforcement campaign targeting hotspots known for producing and selling fake luxury goods.

On May 30, inspectors from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Market Surveillance Department conducted a surprise raid on Saigon Square, a popular shopping center in downtown Hồ Chí Minh City. Thousands of counterfeit items were confiscated , including imitation Rolex watches and fake Prada handbags, as well as knockoffs of brands such as Longines, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hermès.

Trần Việt Hùng, head of the Market Surveillance Operations Department, stated that this was part of a high-priority campaign launched by the Ministry to eliminate counterfeit sales in tourist-heavy areas.

The crackdown comes in the wake of the U.S. placing Việt Nam on its “Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy” list in January 2025, raising pressure on authorities to act decisively.

On June 3, during its 46th session, Việt Nam’s National Assembly Standing Committee debated proposed amendments to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations. National Assembly Chair Trần Thanh Mẫn noted the widespread circulation of counterfeit and substandard goods, criticizing the lack of a dedicated agency responsible for overseeing the issue.

Law enforcement agencies have also intensified operations. In just two months, police have dismantled dozens of counterfeit production and distribution rings, including a major case involving fake pharmaceuticals and supplements in Đồng Nai Province.

According to Major General Nhữ Thị Minh Nguyệt, deputy director of the Environmental Crime Police Department, police handled 2,842 violations in the first four months of 2025. Of these, 36 individuals faced criminal prosecution, while 2,747 cases were subject to administrative fines totaling 12.8 billion dong ( $504,000).

In parallel, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is soliciting feedback on a new draft decree to replace Decree 98/2020 to impose stricter penalties . Influencers (KOLs) and key opinion consumers (KOCs) found promoting counterfeit or misleading products could face fines of 100 to 200 million dong and be required to delete the offending content.

The moves signal a growing recognition by Vietnamese authorities that counterfeit goods pose both reputational and consumer safety risks—especially as the country seeks deeper international trade ties.

Politburo Orders Overhaul of Fatherland Front and Mass Organizations On May 31, the Politburo and Secretariat of the CPV issued Conclusion No. 160 , directing a comprehensive reorganization of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the termination of local-level VFF committees (at the provincial, district, and commune levels) in areas undergoing administrative consolidation.

The party instructed central-level party committees of the VFF and affiliated mass organizations to issue implementation guidelines during the first week of June 2025. In response, on June 2, the VFF Central Standing Committee released Guideline No. 18 , detailing the procedures for restructuring the VFF, socio-political organizations, and state-mandated mass associations.

The restructuring involves two distinct procedures:

For unchanged provinces/cities, the current VFF provincial standing committees are to submit proposals to the VFF Central Committee to recognize their new executive structure under the updated model. For merged administrative units, the provincial Party standing committees must formally propose the establishment of new VFF committees and personnel approval at the provincial level. At the commune level, provincial VFF committees are responsible for issuing decisions on the establishment of new local committees and recognizing their leadership (including chairpersons and vice-chairpersons).

Mass organizations such as the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labor, Farmers’ Union, Women’s Union, Youth Union, and Veterans’ Association are also required to complete their organizational transitions in line with the new administrative boundaries and personnel structures.

Guideline No. 18 also outlines plans for consolidating VFF support offices, reducing the number of deputy-level leaders, and streamlining the operational hierarchy of both the VFF and mass organizations.

This restructuring effort comes in anticipation of the new two-tier local government model. Due to downsizing mandates, a significant surplus of vice-chair positions is expected in merged areas.

These reforms follow the 13th Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 6 0, which identifies the governance and structure of the VFF and socio-political organizations as key priorities in the ongoing amendment of Vietnam’s 2013 Constitution.

State Bank of Vietnam Moves to Dismantle Monopoly in Việt Nam’s Gold Market On May 30, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) release d the findings of a sweeping inspection into four major players in the gold trading market—SJC, PNJ, Bảo Tín Minh Châu, and DOJI—which uncovered serious legal violations.

The SBV has referred these cases to the Ministry of Public Security for criminal investigation over suspected market manipulation and breaches in accounting, tax, and invoicing regulations.

The inspection revealed that the CEO of SJC (Saigon Jewelry Co.) unilaterally determined the company’s buy/sell gold prices without internal oversight or formal procedures—raising red flags about price manipulation. The company was also found to have issued invoices without codes, misstated tax figures, and to have failed to implement anti-money laundering protocols.

Notably, SJC lacked any system to assess politically exposed clients, failed to report large transactions, and repeatedly violated accounting standards. The SBV imposed administrative fines totaling 2.14 billion dong and referred the case to law enforcement for further investigation.

Other penalties were also issued:

PNJ (Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Co.) was fined 1.34 billion dong for violations related to invoicing, tax reporting, and preventive anti-money laundering policies.

The DOJI Group received a 1.365 billion dong fine for operating the eGold online gold trading app without proper authorization.

Bảo Tín Minh Châu was fined 2.64 billion dong for violations in e-commerce and improper cash transaction management.

TPBank and Eximbank were fined 380 million dong and 400 million dong respectively for breaches in gold transaction monitoring, suspicious transaction reporting, and invoice retention.

The SBV’s move comes amid growing public concern that Vietnam’s gold bar market has been distorted by a handful of dominant enterprises. The central bank's aggressive enforcement signals an effort to restore transparency and rein in systemic risks in the tightly controlled gold sector.

Quick Takes: Việt Nam Grants Couples Full Autonomy Over Family Planning On June 3, Việt Nam’s National Assembly Standing Committee approved an amendment to the 2003 Population Ordinance, granting individuals and couples the right to decide when and how many children to have. The revised ordinance, effective immediately, is in response to the country’s declining birth rate and demographic imbalance. Citizens may now determine childbirth timing, spacing, and number based on personal health, income, living conditions, and parenting capacity. The move aims to ease population policy constraints and support sustainable national development.

Việt Nam to Cut 100,000 Public Employees Amid Government Restructuring According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, around 100,000 public employees will retire or leave their positions under Decree 178/2024 as part of a sweeping administrative overhaul. Between now and 2027, approximately 85,000 will take early retirement—65,000 in 2025 alone. Additionally, 6,000 employees are expected to resign in 2025, followed by 5,000 in 2026 and 4,000 in 2027. The workforce reduction is aimed at streamlining the state apparatus and enhancing administrative efficiency.

Interior Ministry Proposes Two Exit Options for Downsized Public Employees Việt Nam’s Ministry of Home Affairs is seeking feedback on a draft decree to replace Decree 29/2023, offering two support options for public employees subject to downsizing, especially those not yet eligible for retirement. The first allows immediate resignation with three months’ salary for job search and 1.5 months’ salary per year of service with mandatory social insurance. The second option allows vocational training before a person resigns, during which time employees will receive full salary and allowances, followed by a three-month job search allowance.

Apple Removes Over 9,000 Fraudulent Apps from Việt Nam in 2024 Apple removed 9,664 apps developed in Việt Nam from the App Store in 2024—an increase of over 90% from the previous year—according to its latest transparency report. The majority, 8,747 apps, were flagged for fraudulent behavior, making Việt Nam the top country for such violations. It surpassed China, with 7,003 removals, and Pakistan, with 4,270.

Việt Nam to Develop First Deep-Sea Port Free Trade Zone in Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province is advancing plans to establish Việt Nam’s first free trade zone (FTZ) with a deep-sea port system in Cái Mép Hạ, Phú Mỹ City. Spanning 3,764 hectares, the project includes three main zones: a 1,735-hectare transport hub, a 1,178-hectare logistics and industrial area, and an 851-hectare urban commercial zone. The FTZ is part of the government's Resolution 24 plan to boost southeast Việt Nam’s development through 2030.

Việt Nam Insight: Learn more about Việt Nam US Pressuring Vietnam to Downgrade Economic Ties With China: Report The Diplomat/Sebastian Strangio/June 4

“The report states that the Trump administration ‘wants Vietnam-based factories to reduce their use of materials and components from China and is asking the country to control more carefully its production and supply chains.’ This demand was included as part of an ‘annex’ to a framework text prepared by U.S. negotiators, sent to Vietnam at the end of last month, shortly after the conclusion of the second round of trade talks.”

Vietnam Ramping up Expansion of South China Sea Outposts: Chinese Think Tank South China Morning Post/Laura Zhou/June 7

"Citing satellite images, the Beijing-based South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI) said on Friday that Vietnam had reclaimed nearly 0.78 sq km (0.3 square miles) of land in the past six months on 11 features in the contested Spratly Islands... In total, Vietnam had reclaimed over 8.5 sq km of new land on these features since October 2021."

Communist Party of Việt Nam Restructures Internal Organization Ahead of 2026 National Congress

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