ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Vietnam’s CSR perceptions and practices. Based on interviews and observations during our field work we interrogate how CSR is perceived by local and multinational companies (MNCs), NGOs as well as some community ‘beneficiaries.’ Given that Vietnam is still a socialist institution, government authorities or representatives are difficult to access. As a developing nation, which opened its doors to foreign investment in 1986, multinational companies have introduced and been credited with the ongoing development of CSR in the country (Hamm 2012; Bilowol & Doan, 2015). Both CSR and PR are therefore very new, unfamiliar and often misunderstood concepts for many in Vietnam. However, the principles underlying PR, which is doing good and telling people about it as well as CSR, which include helping one’s community and family are not necessarily new. We explore these varying perspectives and the interplay of both Western transplanted concepts in Vietnam.
