ARTICLES

16 Sep 2022

When Environmental Sustainability Masks Unsustainable Employment

Joe Buckley

The drive by food delivery platforms to achieve environmental sustainability through the reduction of plastic use belies the fact that these firms do little to create sustainable employment.

9 Sep 2022

Vietnam Tightens the Screws on Big Tech

Dien Nguyen An Luong

Vietnam’s Decree 53 appears to be focused less on making Big Tech firms set up offices and data centres in Vietnam. Instead, it appears to be more focused on instilling fear in such companies and Internet users.

Censorship Technology Vietnam

25 Aug 2022

Why Vietnamese Private Conglomerates Are Venturing Into Social Housing

Le Hong Hiep|Phan Xuan Dung

Private conglomerates in Vietnam have registered strong interest in Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s plan to build at least one million social housing units by the end of the decade. Attainment of the ambitious goal, however, remains doubtful.

Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

10 Aug 2022

Time for Vietnam to Apply Minimum Wage to Gig Economy Workers

Joe Buckley

On paper, gig workers appear to be paid more than their salaried worker counterparts in Vietnam. But the former have to work for longer hours and do not have access to the same benefits enjoyed by the latter. As such, the proposed raise in minimum wage should be applied to gig workers too.

Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

22 Jul 2022

What’s Behind Vietnam’s ‘Bamboo Diplomacy’ Discourse?

Phan Xuan Dung|To Minh Son

Hanoi has been promoting the concept of ‘bamboo diplomacy’ to define its foreign policy of independence and refusal to take sides in international disputes.

Communist Party of Vietnam Diplomacy International Relations Vietnam Vietnamese Politics

15 Jul 2022

Will Vietnam’s Richest Man Be Safe?

Le Hong Hiep

Recent speculation that Vietnam’s richest man, Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong, might get in trouble with the authorities is probably overwrought. Nevertheless, Hanoi’s anti-corruption campaign means Vietnam’s business owners must tread carefully in their search for profit.

Anti-Corruption Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

6 Jul 2022

Vietnam’s App-based Driver Protests Surge amidst Rising Petrol Prices

Joe Buckley

Collective strikes by app-based drivers in Vietnam are using strategies previously employed by workers from more traditional sectors. As petrol prices rise, the heat is on the app companies to respond to growing demands for change.

Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

8 Jun 2022

It Takes Two to Tango: Vietnam-US Relations in the New Context

Hong-Kong Nguyen|Pham-Muoi Nguyen

Vietnam’s delicate balancing act between major powers suggests that it is unlikely to advance a relationship with one power at the expense of another. Instead, it will try to maintain an independent position and promote ties with all powers, where possible.

International Relations U.S. Foreign Policy U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

6 Jun 2022

App-based Drivers in Vietnam: More Workers than Contractors

Joe Buckley

There has been a vigorous debate in Vietnam as to whether drivers for digital platforms are workers or contractors. They should be classified as the former.

Digitalisation Labour Exploitation Labour Market Vietnam Vietnamese Economy