How might Vietnam return to a more horizontal form of philanthropy?

Download the new research paper from Pham Truong Son, How Might Vietnam Reverse the Current Trend Towards a More Vertical Approach to Philanthropy, and Return to a More Horizontal Form of Philanthropy?

Pham Truong Son, Tinh Than Foundation and 2024 / 2025 #ShiftThePower Fellow

After becoming a #ShiftThePower Fellow in 2024, I have been constantly questioning where Vietnamese civil society is headed, and what it must do amidst today’s challenging global context. Engaging with other Fellows and peers at the GFCF Community Philanthropy Symposium in Nairobi in October 2025 broadened my understanding of diverse institutional frameworks across continents, where organizations everywhere are adapting and reshaping themselves.

Reflecting on Vietnam’s journey over the past 50 years, I firmly believe that the institutional environment plays a decisive role in determining what organizations can achieve, how they transform and what strategic actions local non-profit leaders must take. A key lesson from the GFCF network is the vital need for a tightly-knit, inter-connected coalition and network that advances shared community values and elevates local voices. This is rather than relying on traditional Official Development Assistance funding mechanisms.

Since 2018 – a period marking the onset of formidable challenges for local civil society in Vietnam – I have observed a stark absence of research reports and trend forecasting regarding local civil society in the country. Many researchers have left the country, and most literature on Vietnam is now produced by authors living abroad, often lacking an authentic, nuanced reflection of the grounded local context.

Driven by my 30 years of hands-on experience in the country, combined with ongoing discussions surrounding the legal, philanthropic, civil and non-profit landscapes within informal forums and networks, I authored this research paper. My objective was to provide actionable foresight for local organizations transitioning from a “vertical / in-depth” approach (traditionally driven by Official Development Assistance in the past) towards a more “horizontal / broad-based” paradigm (underpinned by local autonomy, self-determination and community leadership).

Although Vietnam’s institutional framework differs significantly from other nations, with the State maintaining a dominant and central role in political, economic and social affairs, the transformation of local organizations remains inevitable. Standing still is not an option; civil society must adapt while navigating the country’s unique legal and institutional realities. This nuanced perspective forms the backbone of my research paper.

By: Pham Truong Son, Tinh Than Foundation and 2024 / 2025 #ShiftThePower Fellow. Read his Fellowship paper: How Might Vietnam Reverse the Current Trend Towards a More Vertical Approach to Philanthropy, and Return to a More Horizontal Form of Philanthropy?