On July 23, Ho Chi Minh City police announced an expanded investigation into a drug trafficking ring. Among those arrested was famed fashion designer Nguyen Cong Tri.

Earlier, the public was stunned when the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigative Police Agency charged and detained Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien (Miss Grand International 2021) for allegedly defrauding customers as an accomplice of individuals from Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company.

Prior to Tien’s arrest, police had already pressed charges and imposed pretrial detention on Pham Quang Linh (known as Quang Linh Vlogs, born 1998), a board member of Chi Em Rot Group, and Nguyen Thi Thai Hang (known as Hang Du Muc, born 1995), the company’s chairwoman, residing in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Dr. Dang Van Cuong - a lawyer and lecturer in Law and Political Theory at Thuy Loi University - noted that celebrities can strongly influence fans’ thinking, behavior, and attitudes. The rise in criminal charges against high-profile figures is an alarming trend with potentially harmful effects on society, especially youth.

According to Dr. Cuong, this trend underscores the urgent need to strengthen management of public figures, guiding them to behave ethically, respect community norms, and obey the law to minimize their negative impact, particularly on young audiences.

He emphasized that the thoughts, opinions, and lifestyles of celebrities can shape societal values and perceptions. Therefore, the public expects famous individuals to act lawfully and uphold cultural, moral, and traditional standards.

To achieve this, specific rules and regulations must be enacted to manage celebrity behavior more effectively.

The string of arrests has sparked deeper societal reflection on Vietnam’s legal culture and respect for the rule of law.

At the seminar “Building a culture of legal compliance in line with Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW,” hosted by the Ministry of Justice’s Department of Legal Dissemination and Legal Aid on July 31, Master Pham Ngan Ha (Department of Legal Affairs and Scientific Management, Supreme People’s Procuracy) shared insights into global practices and lessons for Vietnam.

Ha cited several international examples. In Singapore, where crime rates are low and law compliance is high, authorities have actively cultivated the “Singapore spirit.” This civic identity stresses that citizenship is not only a right but also a duty to uphold law and societal order.

This value system is reinforced through national education, including civic classes, national pledges, and anthems, as well as public campaigns like the “Shared Values” movement in the 1990s.

Singapore also promotes the guiding principle: “Nation before community, society before self.” This motto underlines that personal interests must not override national priorities.

In Germany, Ha noted that one key to fostering a law-abiding culture is the power of social norms. In German society, compliance with laws is not merely a legal obligation but a personal moral standard. Surveys show that Germans view law observance as a matter of personal integrity.

For Vietnam, Ha suggested promoting civic values and reinforcing national identity. Legal enforcement should go hand in hand with fairness and justice.

She also emphasized the importance of civic and legal education. In primary and secondary curricula, Vietnam can highlight that obeying the law is an act of patriotism - mirroring how Singapore incorporates national values and pledges into formal education through the principle “Nation before community, society before self.”

T. Nhung