~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Vietnam's civil servants told to mind their manners

HANOI - Communist Vietnam's public servants have been told to improve their manners, stop shouting at people and refrain from cooking in government offices, state media reported Friday. Responding to public complaints about the rudeness of some stamp-wielding bureaucrats, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a new set of directives on government "office culture" that took effect this week.

"In communication and behaviour, civil servants must have a polite and respectful attitude," say the new rules. "The communication language must be clear and understandable. No swearing, use of slang or shouting." Vietnam's 84 million citizens must navigate a bewildering array of committees and other officialdom to obtain everything from residency permits and ID cards to school enrolment. The system often leaves people at the mercy of poorly paid and sometimes corrupt bureaucrats, but the new directive tells Vietnam's 1.3 million state employees to avoid an "authoritarian attitude" and "cumbersome" procedures. It also bans hanging up the phone, making clear that "phone conversation must not be cut off suddenly."

Banned office behaviour includes burning incense, cooking food and smoking. Alcoholic drinks are also out "except in cases agreed by the head of the agency, during festivals or receptions of guests."

Agence France Presse - September 7, 2007.