Corruption number one worry for Vietnamese people in 2024  

The 2024 Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index, known as PAPI, was released on April 15 in Hanoi.

The report showed that corruption, poverty, and jobs are the biggest concerns for citizens across the country.

The report collected views from almost 19,000 people chosen at random from all over Vietnam. About 23 percent said corruption is the biggest issue the government should fix.

This is a sharp rise compared to last year. The increase is likely linked to several major corruption trials that have made headlines in 2024.

Even though people are more worried about corruption, fewer citizens said they had to pay bribes for public services this year. This suggests that some small improvements have been made at the local level.

The study also found that fewer families are struggling financially compared to 2023. Only around 10 percent of people said their household’s financial situation was “poor” or “very poor,” the best result since 2019.

Still, many are concerned about poverty and job security. Around 14 percent said poverty remains a top issue, and about 13 percent pointed to problems with employment.

Vietnam’s economy grew strongly by 7.09 percent in 2024, but many families, especially vulnerable groups, still feel insecure.

Social insurance could help, but only about 29 percent of people are covered, and the numbers are even lower among farmers, informal workers, and ethnic minorities.

“Expanding coverage under the 2024 Social Insurance Law will help address citizens’ concerns about poverty and economic instability,” said Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, Irish Ambassador to Vietnam.

The report also showed that nearly 40 percent of families were hit by extreme weather events like floods and storms in the past year. It warned that climate change is making life harder for many communities.