ABSTRACT
Contemporary Vietnam is shaped by its geography, geopolitical history and myriad interactions that comprise state–society relations. This chapter provides a brief account of selected aspects of Vietnam’s history and culture which shape the environment in which police operate, including historical territorial disputes, invasions and the reunification of North and South Vietnam. It describes Vietnam’s transition to a market economy and efforts to transform the country’s legal institutions, including the role of the police. Importantly, it introduces ways Vietnamese cultural norms mediate police practices around social control and responses to crime. This chapter demonstrates Vietnam’s unique history with specific features that coalesce to shape the field of policing for a jurisdiction in the Global South.
