Hanoi launches 2025 writing contest to promote culture of law compliance

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi has launched the 2025 Writing Contest themed “The Culture of Law Compliance” to celebrate the Vietnam Law Day (November 9) and build a culture of law abidance among citizens, enterprises and agencies.

The event was co-organized by the Hanoi Department of Justice and Kinh te & Do thi (Economic & Urban) Newspaper and livestreamed on the newspaper’s digital platforms and connected with 126 ward- and commune-level venues across the city today (November 6).

The contest aims to promote a deeper understanding of the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW dated April 30, 2025, which focuses on reforming the lawmaking and enforcement process.

As the country enters a new development phase, creating and maintaining a culture of law compliance has become a fundamental requirement for building an effective socialist rule-of-law state.

Pham Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Justice, said that the Vietnam Law Day honors the Constitution and the laws, raises public awareness and promotes a stronger legal culture.

She added that the occasion allows citizens, organizations and agencies to demonstrate proper legal behavior, strengthen discipline and uphold respect for the law.

According to Huong, the 2025 Vietnam Law Day takes place as the country implements its two-tier local government model and celebrates the success of the 18th Hanoi Party Congress, heading toward the 14th National Party Congress.

She said that this year’s theme translates the Party’s Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW into practice by emphasizing the goal of building a culture of law compliance among the people.

Hanoi’s activities in response to Vietnam Law Day will be widely organized across the city and linked with administrative reform, digital transformation, anti-corruption, environmental protection and the implementation of the 2024 Capital Law, Huong said.

“With the theme ‘Building a Culture of Law Compliance Across Society’, Hanoi aims to make Law Day a regular and meaningful event that promotes lawful and civilized behavior,” Huong said.

She added that the Ministry of Justice has recognized Hanoi for its creative and effective communication models and that most residents now show stronger awareness and voluntary compliance with the law.

According to her, Hanoi has coordinated its communication programs with agencies, departments and localities, focusing on vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, women and children.

The city has also diversified its communication methods through conferences, workshops, contests, digital platforms and publications, especially electronic media.

She called on all sectors to continue renewing legal education and community engagement while improving citizens’ access to legal information.

Huong stressed the need to promote the image of a cultured, law-abiding Hanoi.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Loi, Editor-in-Chief of Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper, said that the writing contest is one of the year’s key activities to inspire respect for the law and civic responsibility.

He said the concept of a “law compliance culture” was first highlighted in Notice No. 108-KL/TW signed by Party General Secretary To Lam, reflecting a new mindset in lawmaking and enforcement.

“The culture of law compliance is a key part of legal culture and can only thrive when learning and practicing the law become natural, voluntary acts of every individual and organization,” Loi said.

The contest invites officials, civil servants, students and citizens to share good practices and stories of law observance, contributing to a disciplined, civilized and modern society.

Officials must lead by example

One key issue on making law abidance and enforcement effective was how to make law observance a habit among citizens.

Huong said that government officials, Party members and public employees must act as role models in following the law.

She urged agencies and local authorities to promote digital transformation, apply science and technology and adopt innovative communication tools to make legal information more accessible.

Professor Dr. Nguyen Minh Doan from the Hanoi Law University said that fostering a culture of law compliance among students must begin with teachers and staff setting good examples.

“If educators fail to lead by example, teaching about law becomes empty talk,” he said.

Doan noted that the university trains students not only in legal knowledge but also in ethical integrity, aiming to develop capable and principled jurists, judges and prosecutors.

He stressed that legal professionals must uphold justice, pursue truth and have the courage to confront wrongdoing.

The university’s mission, he said, goes beyond professional training and helps students live according to the spirit of justice.

Nguyen Van Cuong, Director of the Institute of Legal Science and Strategy under the Ministry of Justice, shared the same view.

He said that law compliance should evolve from a legal duty into a social virtue.

“When law compliance becomes a habit and a natural reflex, people will instinctively feel remorse for any violation. That is the highest form of legal culture,” Cuong said.

He emphasized the need to define the key elements of legal culture, from attitudes of respect for legal norms to everyday behavior, in order to build shared social values.

Cuong added that once this is achieved, the law will become a tool for governance, a driver of development and a foundation for public trust.

Phan Hong Nguyen, Deputy Director General of the Department of Law Dissemination and Legal Aid under the Ministry of Justice, said legal education must be renewed in both content and method.

In the era of digital transformation and international integration, he said, legal communication must evolve from simply explaining regulations into interactive policy communication.

Nguyen said his department is advising the Government and the Central Council to apply information technology, digital tools and social media to strengthen legal dissemination.

“We must communicate policies early and from afar, so citizens are informed, consulted and prepared before new policies take effect. This builds social consensus and encourages voluntary law compliance,” he said.

He proposed developing a coherent and practical legal system with low compliance costs to support citizens and strengthen a culture of law observance.

Nguyen stressed that public officials and Party members must set examples of integrity and discipline to earn public trust and foster respect for the law.

He urged authorities to detect and strictly handle violations to ensure deterrence and reinforce confidence in the legal system.

Communication, education and enforcement must go hand in hand to strengthen compliance and uphold social order, the official said.

Nguyen added that his department has drafted a Proposal on the Culture of Law Compliance, which will be submitted to the Prime Minister in 2026.

The proposal outlines the content, tasks and responsibilities of each agency in promoting a nationwide culture of law observance, he said.