The Asia Foundation

The 2008 PCI survey is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 7,820 domestic entrepreneurs and managers from firms across Vietnam’s 64...

The 2008 PCI survey is the largest and most comprehensive assessment and ranking of the performance of provincial governments based on the views expressed by over 7,820 domestic entrepreneurs and managers from firms across Vietnam’s 64 provinces. Every year, this highly anticipated survey gauges the impact of economic and administrative reforms at both the provincial and national levels and guides the decisions of Vietnam’s policymakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.

Occasional Paper No. 5, March 2011

A review of the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the series of Economic Governance Indices (EGIs) conducted by The Asia Foundation in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia,...

Occasional Paper No. 5, March 2011

A review of the basic theoretical and programmatic rationale for the series of Economic Governance Indices (EGIs) conducted by The Asia Foundation in countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia.

A nonprofit sector governance guide for NGOs and civil society groups in Vietnam to provide them with a broader understanding of civil society development issues in general and in Vietnam in particular; and to provide clear guidance on the...

A nonprofit sector governance guide for NGOs and civil society groups in Vietnam to provide them with a broader understanding of civil society development issues in general and in Vietnam in particular; and to provide clear guidance on the critical elements affecting the establishment and operations of a strong and credible civil society organization - from internal governance issues, to fundraising, to human resources.

(In Vietnamese) The "Agricultural Cooperatives Manual" is a product of an Asia Foundation project to enhance capacity of rural cooperatives to respond effectively to the economic and development needs of their communities conducted between...

(In Vietnamese) The "Agricultural Cooperatives Manual" is a product of an Asia Foundation project to enhance capacity of rural cooperatives to respond effectively to the economic and development needs of their communities conducted between 2010 and 2012. The manual includes an analysis of Vietnam's legal documents on cooperatives, development of agricultural cooperatives in Vietnam, and international models of agricultural cooperatives.

The Asia Foundation’s international relations program in Vietnam strengthens and improves U.S.- Vietnam relations by convening bilateral conferences, organizing research placements for visiting American and Vietnamese scholars, and...

The Asia Foundation’s international relations program in Vietnam strengthens and improves U.S.- Vietnam relations by convening bilateral conferences, organizing research placements for visiting American and Vietnamese scholars, and supporting the development of Vietnamese Studies in the United States. One of the keys to fostering a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the United States in Vietnam is helping Vietnamese universities to develop and expand their emerging American Studies programs.

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector...

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector businesses. However, while the PCI has been influential in identifying issues that impact the enabling environment for private sector development, it cannot provide detailed feedback on what provincial governments can actually do to improve economic governance, and thereby support private sector development. In repeated conversations with provincial and national-level policy-makers, The Foundation has found that policy-makers are increasingly aware that there are governance problems at the provincial-level, but do not have the research and technical support to understand what specific reforms are most effective in improving the governance environment. The primary objective of the research is to map best practices in transparency/access to information that can be formulated into targeted technical assistance packages. The research includes both quantitative analysis of the PCI dataset and qualitative analysis of the case studies.

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector...

Since its inception in 2005, the Vietnam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) has been a critical tool for measuring and assessing the standards of economic governance in Vietnam's 64 provinces from the perspective of private sector businesses. However, while the PCI has been influential in identifying issues that impact the enabling environment for private sector development, it cannot provide detailed feedback on what provincial governments can actually do to improve economic governance, and thereby support private sector development. In repeated conversations with provincial and national-level policy-makers, The Foundation has found that policy-makers are increasingly aware that there are governance problems at the provincial-level, but do not have the research and technical support to understand what specific reforms are most effective in improving the governance environment. The primary objective of the research is to map best practices in transparency/access to information that can be formulated into targeted technical assistance packages. The research includes both quantitative analysis of the PCI dataset and qualitative analysis of the case studies.

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program has operated in Vietnam since 1993 through a partnership with the National Library in Hanoi. Over the past five years, the Foundation has provided approximately 160,000 volumes to Vietnam to...

The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program has operated in Vietnam since 1993 through a partnership with the National Library in Hanoi. Over the past five years, the Foundation has provided approximately 160,000 volumes to Vietnam to more than 100 institutions throughout the country, with an additional 120,000 expected to be shipped over the next three years, with a total value of $4.5 million.

The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia program has operated in Vietnam since 1993 through a partnership with the National Library in Hanoi. The program provides high-quality educational materials to help improve the scientific knowledge of...

The Asia Foundation's Books for Asia program has operated in Vietnam since 1993 through a partnership with the National Library in Hanoi. The program provides high-quality educational materials to help improve the scientific knowledge of Vietnamese citizens, and to promote the development of various educational fields in Vietnam.

On December 15, 2005, a court trial was held in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, to prosecute a human trafficking case. A 20-year-old girl named Thuy, herself a former victim of trafficking, was accused of trafficking 27 women and children. Four...

On December 15, 2005, a court trial was held in Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, to prosecute a human trafficking case. A 20-year-old girl named Thuy, herself a former victim of trafficking, was accused of trafficking 27 women and children. Four victims from Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province escaped and were rescued, and subsequently served as witnesses testifying against the accused trafficker. The trafficker was convicted and sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment, and was ordered to compensate the victims for the mental and physical trauma endured.

A comparative research project that provides an overview of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Vietnam. The research was carried out in Vietnam's two major metropolitan areas, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are the bases for the majority...

A comparative research project that provides an overview of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Vietnam. The research was carried out in Vietnam's two major metropolitan areas, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are the bases for the majority of Vietnamese CSOs. The research team selected fifty representative CSOs from each city, interviewing leaders of those organizations on multiple aspects of civil society operation and development. The findings focus on civil society governance, programmatic focus, operational approaches, forms of engagement with other sectors such as businesses and government, networking, and funding.

(In Vietnamese) Between 2010 and 2011, the Foundation supported An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho provinces to integrate safe migration education into school curriculums and community activities. Activities included communication campaigns to...

(In Vietnamese) Between 2010 and 2011, the Foundation supported An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho provinces to integrate safe migration education into school curriculums and community activities. Activities included communication campaigns to raise public awareness of safe migration. Thousands of students and young people sent in writings, songs, poems, drawings, and photos on safe migration and human trafficking. This book is a collection of the best pieces from the campaign.

Lessons learned and practical experiences for future program design and implementation. 2002-2008. The report features an overview culled from The Foundation's experience in implementing program interventions in collaboration with an expanding...

Lessons learned and practical experiences for future program design and implementation. 2002-2008. The report features an overview culled from The Foundation's experience in implementing program interventions in collaboration with an expanding network of local and international partners that share our commitment to bettering the lives of trafficking victims and protecting those at-risk of being trafficked.

The Asia Foundation is a leader in the fight against trafficking in persons in Asia, one of the most egregious human rights abuses in the region. In Vietnam, women and children are trafficked to China, Cambodia, Taiwan, and South Korea for...

The Asia Foundation is a leader in the fight against trafficking in persons in Asia, one of the most egregious human rights abuses in the region. In Vietnam, women and children are trafficked to China, Cambodia, Taiwan, and South Korea for sexual exploitation, forced marriages, labor in sweatshops, and/or domestic servitude; and the number of trafficking victims increases annually. Even when these victims manage to return to Vietnam, they face tremendous difficulty in reintegrating into their communities. Stigmatized by society and traumatized by their experience, they generally do not have the education and skills necessary for gainful employment. These women are at a high risk of being re-trafficked.

Now more than ever, disaster preparedness and risk reduction are essential to the sustained well-being and future development of communities throughout Asia and the Pacific. For over 17 years, The Asia Foundation has been helping communities...

Now more than ever, disaster preparedness and risk reduction are essential to the sustained well-being and future development of communities throughout Asia and the Pacific. For over 17 years, The Asia Foundation has been helping communities strengthen their resilience to natural disasters and the increasing threats from climate change. It is cultivating leadership among local and national governments, building the capacity of vulnerable communities, and engaging the private sector.

Advancing Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunities for Small and Medium Businesses

The Asia Foundation has a decades-long history of supporting broad-based economic growth across Asia through both public and private...

Advancing Entrepreneurship and Economic Opportunities for Small and Medium Businesses

The Asia Foundation has a decades-long history of supporting broad-based economic growth across Asia through both public and private channels. Through its Economic Development programs, the Foundation has assisted micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in accessing the legal information, financing, business services, and skills they need to enhance their competitiveness and profitability, thereby helping to create jobs and reduce poverty.

Occasional Paper No. 3, September 2010

This paper sketches out the operational features of emerging political economy-based approaches to sectoral economic policy reform. Section 1 traces some of the literature on the political...

Occasional Paper No. 3, September 2010

This paper sketches out the operational features of emerging political economy-based approaches to sectoral economic policy reform. Section 1 traces some of the literature on the political economy analysis of reforms. Section 2 outlines the international development community’s increasing recognition of the political economy aspects of economic governance, and their efforts to undertake sharper political economy analysis of reform challenges. Finally, in Section 3 the paper identifies elements of operational reform approaches that move beyond disengaged political economy analysis towards on-the-ground implementation of political strategies in policy reform processes.

V. Bruce J. Tolentino, Director, Economic Reform and Development, The Asia Foundation

(In Vietnamese) The Asia Foundation's "Community based tourism for handicraft villages in Bac Ninh" project supported three villages to develop and manage community-based tourism models designed to involve and benefit poorer communities. This...

(In Vietnamese) The Asia Foundation's "Community based tourism for handicraft villages in Bac Ninh" project supported three villages to develop and manage community-based tourism models designed to involve and benefit poorer communities. This guidance document was developed to share experiences on the development of community-based tourism to improve livelihoods in other localities in Vietnam.