Public Service Ethics in Ho Chi Minh's Thought: The Philosophical Foundation for a Modern Integrity-Oriented State
Keywords:
Ho Chi Minh. Public ethics. Integrity. Administrative reform. Political responsibility. Leadership ethics. Rule-of-law state.Abstract
In the contemporary effort to establish a modern, transparent, and accountable state apparatus, public service ethics must be understood not merely as technical management, but fundamentally as a matter of institutional morality. This article examines Ho Chi Minh’s philosophy of public ethics as an indispensable foundation for building an honest and efficient public administration in Vietnam. Drawing from his seminal works - Rectify Working Style, Revolutionary Ethics, and numerous letters and speeches to cadres - Ho Chi Minh articulates a coherent framework of values including diligence, thrift, integrity, uprightness, impartiality, and absolute loyalty to the people. These values do not only carry historical significance but remain vitally relevant today, especially in combating corruption, reforming administrative systems, and improving leadership accountability. Through a combination of philosophical interpretation and policy analysis, the article argues that Ho Chi Minh’s ethical vision can be institutionalized into a systemic model for governance, serving as both a normative guide and a practical tool in the construction of a rule-of-law socialist state.
