Background:
The Accounting Law of 2003 provides the legal framework for accounting, auditing, and corporate reporting in Vietnam. Under the Accounting Law, all
companies are required to prepare and present legal entity financial statements in accordance with Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS). The Accounting
Law endorses the alignment of Vietnamese Accounting Standards with international standards for the preparation of corporate financial statements. Article 8
of the Accounting Law implies that accounting standards underpin the financial reporting practices in Vietnam and the MOF shall issue the accounting
standards “in accordance with International Accounting Standards and the provisions of the Accounting Law.”
At present, only some businesses, mainly those with foreign investment, apply IFRS to prepare financial statements primarily for the purpose of reporting to
the parent company abroad. In addition to these foreign owned companies, there are a few other organizations that prepare their financial statements
according to IFRS for certain purposes, such as some commercial banks and non-governmental organizations.
Work has begun in Vietnam to implement IFRS. This includes:
- Translating and circulating the international financial reporting standards;
- Putting IFRS into teaching curricula at universities and colleges;
- Popularizing and raising awareness of IFRS, for example through publications in Accounting and Auditing Review of VAA, Audit Review of Vietnam
State Audit, Financial Review of the MOF and other scientific research reviews; and
- Organizing training courses and seminars.
VAA supports the MOF in its promulgation of accounting standards through the participation of its staff in the drafting process.