ABSTRACT
In order to ensure that government works more effectively, particularly for the poor, the Government of Vietnam recognizes that it needs to focus on reform of the institutional structures and systems which facilitate this. Most mature legal systems, however, have developed over centuries, but Vietnam is keen to integrate quickly into the world and regional economic systems and to become a modern, industrialized nation by the year 2010. Vietnam has taken important steps to shift from a centrally planned economy to a socialist oriented market economy in which the private sector will play an increasing role. The Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction Program and Program 135 for Socio-Economic Development in Communes with Extreme Difficulties, aim to work in a decentralized way while promoting community participation. To ensure that women have an equal voice in Vietnam’s development, Vietnam has to take a gender-sensitive approach to participation.
