Viet Nam among Asia’s fastest-improving countries in governance capacity
DNO - Viet Nam has climbed 12 places in the Effective Government Index since 2021, rising from 60th in the inaugural ranking to 48th in 2025.
The result was unveiled by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics at a recent knowledge-sharing seminar in Ha Noi.
Launched by the Chandler Institute of Governance in 2021, the Effective Government Index assesses governance capacity and performance across 120 countries. It is based on seven pillars: leadership and vision; a strong legal and policy system; robust institutions; financial management; economic competitiveness; global influence and reputation; and the improvement of people's quality of life.
Designed by practitioners for practitioners, the Effective Government Index provides a set of criteria and useful information to support long-term government reform plans. Many countries use the index to identify strengths, areas for improvement and learn from the experiences of other countries in the region.
The 2025 survey results show that Vietnam recorded a 12-place rise since 2021, making it one of Asia’s fastest and strongest improvers in governance capacity, with progress across six of the seven pillars over the past five years.
Notable improvements were seen in leadership and vision where Vietnam climbed 31 places to rank 30th globally and eighth in the Asia–Pacific region. Strong improvements also included strategic prioritization (from 56th to 19th) and long-term vision (from 40th to 15th).
In the robust institutions pillar, enhanced implementation capacity helped Viet Nam surge 37 places, from 58th in 2021 to 21st in 2025. Financial management improved by 20 places, driven by stronger fiscal discipline and more effective financial planning. In terms of quality of life, Viet Nam ranked 52nd globally, reflecting gains in personal safety and income distribution.
These results reflect major governance reforms undertaken in recent years, particularly in 2024 and 2025, marked by a sweeping streamlining of the administrative apparatus and decisive policy actions on institutional reform, digital transformation and innovation, all aligned with the goal of turning Vietnam into a high-income developed country by 2045.
The 2025 index also highlights the Asia - Pacific region’s continued institutional diversity, ranging from long-established systems to rapidly reforming economies.
In 2025, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan led the region, demonstrating long-term stability thanks to strong institutions and a long-term vision.
Among emerging economies, Mongolia stood out with significant improvements, rising from 88th (2021) to 76th (2025), most notably in the leadership and vision pillar and the enhancement of digital public services under its vision strategy towards 2050.