[Vnbiz] Intel Vietnam refuses to pay bribes

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear Brother Phong & CACC,

If you look around the world, most corrupt countries have all the elements
of a legal system in place, not just South Vietnam.  About Singapore, why
can't we think that the Singaporeans have a very good sense of ethics?  They
are very ethical to me, the way I observe.

But here is the real question:  I have no problem with building law and the
legal system and the economic system.  I have talked about these issues
since ever in this forum and else where.

But why do we have problem when I talk about ethics?  What is wrong with
being ethical?  In the US and around the world, we have codes of ethics for
lawyers, for doctors, for dentists, accountants, for engineers, for
architects, for real estate agents, for business, for all kinds of
professionals.

Why when talking about building ethics in Vietnam, do I sense such a strong
resistance to ethics.  Some people even have the intelligence to say that
ethics is not necessary. Are we really saying that ethics is not necessary
for a person, for a country?

It isn't law versus ethics.  The way I see it, it is law AND ethics.  What's
wrong with it?  What's wrong with being ethical?

(BTW, although I am idealistic, being ethical is not idealism as brother
Phong said.  It is absolutely practical.  Although I may have lost millions
of dollars by rejecting corrupt deals in Vietnam, I've built my
million-dollar company in the US by, among other things, relying heavily on
ethical practices and training my people to act honestly and ethically).

Have a great day!

Hoanh

On 8/15/07, Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov <Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov> wrote:
>
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
>
>
> Dear anh Hoanh,
> The pre-75 South Vietnam experience is hardly a model of the rule of law
> to spend too much time pondering over.  To the degree that any of the 3
> elements I cited are in place (they weren't), they we simply overwhelmed by
> the tremendous resources (money) that seemingly fell from the sky. I don't
> know if we can say that the people then were more ethical, but the rewards
> quickly outweight the risks.
> Now consider Singapore.  Are the people there any more ethical than their
> regional neighbors?  There are stories of law-abiding Singaporean citizens
> going offshore to "blow off steam".  Same person, different behaviors in
> different environments.
> Hence the rule of law.  That's how Mr. Lee and his colleague built, almost
> overnight, the "ethical foundation" of Singaporean society.
> The rule of law (not the same as just having lots of laws) controls those
> who are tempted by corruption provides refuge for those who do not wish to
> engage in corruption.
> Back to Vietnam.
> In pre-75 South Vietnam, many American military contractors actively or
> indirectly contributed to corruption in a big way while pointing fingers at
> the very people helped corrupt.  There were simply too much money floating
> around.  And it's war time.  And it was pre FCPA.
>  I don't know what the lawyers for the chemical companies would have
> advised on producing and supplying agent orange and other defoliants to the
> U.S. military, knowing that dioxin is highly toxic and a carcinogent.
>  Perhaps they would say it's not illegal, but is it ethical?  Or perhaps
> they just plead ignorance of chemistry!
> I respect your idealism in building the "voluntary sense of right and
> wrong in people's heart".  I think it has always been there, albeit greatly
> disillusioned.  Many a good communist cadres spent all their youth, energy,
> and talent on building lofty ideals, including a society free of corruption
> and exploitation.  Their sand castle lacked the foundation of the rule of
> law and the protection of checks and balance, and could not withstand the
> first challenges of the free market economy.
> Best,  HPP
>
> --
> Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
> Washington DC
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