The local media recently reported that at a district in the central region, some female teachers were “mobilized” by local officials to participate in parties to welcome guests. The case has rung the alarm bell about the wasteful use of state budget of some "public servants".

In fact, almost everyone knows how state agencies pay for their bills at restaurants (parties for guests). Even when an inspection team was sent to a state agency to check spending, inspectors also attended such parties.

In many places, local governments asked for additional grant of state money for “unscheduled guest reception”. Some local government were debtors of restaurants.

This situation reminds me of the surprise of some foreign officials when they were invited by Vietnamese agencies to the parties where they were offered imported wine bottles worth hundreds or even over $1,000/bottle. It also reminds me of how the American spent state money during the visit of a delegation of Vietnamese writers to the US several years ago, in which I was a member.

Through the Department of State, the American people contribute some money to a fund to annually invite cultural experts worldwide to the US to learn about the country, the people and American culture. Each guest is given an amount of money that is equal to half of the cost of the trip, and the guest has to cover the remaining cost. In the US, we were welcomed very warmly and enthusiastically everywhere and all related agencies satisfied all of our requests.

However, we had to pay for everything, from water bottles to lunch, dinner, entrance fee to the museum... Those who did not eat, the host did not ask why because they respected the individual needs of the guest. The two American officials who joined us also paid for their meals. They told me that their President or governors and other public servants did the same.

"Public spending is strictly supervised, possibly through state agencies or people's comments. The people can lodge their complaints about public spending without giving their name. Any complaint in any form is considered and investigated," an American official told me.

I mentioned these examples to show that in developed countries, which are rich and grant a lot of money to help poor countries, the use of state money is strictly supervised. I think that this cultural nature is only with people who have self-esteem and have built a civilized style.

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance has issued specific regulations on spending for guest reception, with the specific amount of money for each meal/guest based on the guest’s position. However, the Ministry did not identify the guests and why they were treated as guests.

Many officials were paid by the state for their business trips but during their trips, they also were treated as guests. It is a waste for the state budget that must be addressed.

Truong Huyen