Prof. Dang Hung Vo

Prof. Dang Hung Vo: I think one of the highest criteria for evaluation is whether that policy is consistent with reality or not. 

We have tried to bring the policy into life, but I think the opposite side is important, because it is the way to assert whether that policy is appropriate for life or not. 

Any policy made has a lot of impact on various subjects. It can benefit this group, but it can also harm other groups. To evaluate a policy, we can offer a variety of criteria, which are based on the demand of people. Sometimes we follow the thinking of some officials. I think we have to consider that way of thinking is in life or just in air-conditioned rooms.

Lawyer Ngoc Lan: I agree with Prof. Vo. It is not easy at all to bring a policy into life. The matter here is that we need to realize whether or not it is the needs of society? Whether or not it is the needs of the people?

And we should note very specifically who are the subjects of that policy, then we have a more rational policy making process.

VietNamNet: Some said that our law-making process is likely "patching bicycle tires". Whenever the tire has a hole, we patch it. That way makes our policies change very often. What is the main cause of this situation, Mr Hoang Ngoc Giao?

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Giao: Firstly, the policy, the law and development are three elements tied together. When it comes to making laws, people usually think of the Civil Code, the Criminal Code or the laws on economics, such as the Law on Investment. But from the perspective of expertise, I think that the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents is a very important law. Its importance is only after the Constitution, because it is significant in enhancing the quality of bills.

Legal documents are tools to build the legal system on a platform in line with the Constitution. If this tool is weak, we will have poor legal products, and a low quality legal system.

Secondly, we often call on bringing the law into life, for people’s execution – ie imposed thinking. The reality for decades has proven it. Many legal documents were issued but they were not enforced.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Giao

We must turn back from the first stage - "law making", not from law enforcement, or the last stage. Experts, policymakers and cabinet members and National Assembly deputies have just realized that: "We have made law in the way of both designing and building at the same time and the way of making a plough in in the middle of the road, ie making law without any orientation.

When we say "patching bicycle tires” its means that we already have a product and whenever it has a hole, then we patch it but here I emphasize the first stage – law making process – when we have the core ideas for a bill.

A few months ago the media reported that a district in Hanoi wanted to ban sidewalk beer services. Such idea is a policy. But when that district flashed that idea and wanted to turn it into a policy, the local authorities did not consult beer sellers and beer drinkers, experts or the people of Hanoi. And when that idea was introduced, it caused social reaction. That's an example.