Viet Nam jumps 11 steps in budget transparency: Open Budget Survey

Specifically, all pillars have scores higher than the global average and have improved since 2021: budget transparency scored 51 out of 100 points (the global average is 45 points); public participation scored 19 out of 100 points (the global average is 15 points); budget oversight scored 82 out of 100 points (the global average is 62 points).

Notably, in Viet Nam's OBS 2023 results, three documents achieved high scores, including the Citizens Budget Report (scoring a maximum of 100 out of 100 points), the State Budget Estimates approved by the National Assembly (scoring 83 points), and the In-year Budget Implementation Report (scoring 78 points).

"Viet Nam has increased the availability of budget information by increasing the information provided in the executive's budget proposal," the report noted.

The OBS is the world's only independent, comparative and fact-based research instrument that uses internationally accepted criteria to assess public access to central government budget information; formal opportunities for the public to participate in the national budget process; and the role of budget oversight institutions such as legislatures and national audit offices in the budget process.

First conducted in 2006, the survey helps local civil societies to assess and confer with their governments on the reporting and use of public funds. This represents the ninth edition of the OBS and covers over 120 countries.

Viet Nam participated in the biannual survey in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021, with its ranking improving after each survey./.