Vietnam’s central city of Danang on Oct 31 started the implementation of a $1.3 million project which is funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to reform administration procedures. The project which was funded under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) is expected to be completed in 2016. As part of the project, for the first time the city will apply a fair state employee recruitment system, which requires open competition and ensures the best candidate will get the job as well as build a digital database to manage state employees. The project will subsequently be carried out in the southern province of Can Tho and the northern provinces of Bac Giang and Ha Tinh. A recent survey by the Asia Pacific Institute of Management (APIM) under the National Economic University showed that 32% of Hue and Danang residents witnessed or participated in bribery or other corruption forms in one or more activities, including in obtaining state employment. The lack of transparency in public administration is the main reason for rampant corruption in Vietnam. (Thanh Nien –Young People Nov 01 p2)
