Annotation

Purpose: to describe the drug situation in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, revealing the determinants of crime, related phenomena and new approaches to combating it. Methodology: The study is based on content analysis of authentic documents, special legal methods (interpretation of laws and court decisions, formal legal methods), as well as historical methods. Conclusions based on the results of the conducted research: The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is both a transit and distribution point for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors (hereinafter referred to as drugs), especially synthetic types. Young people are a particularly vulnerable social group. A stable domestic drug market has developed due to historical factors (including an open-door policy), cultural features, accessibility of infrastructure, corruption in certain government agencies, the existence of stable supply networks, inter alia cross-border ones, high levels of organized crime, poverty, low levels of resocialization, isolation and the introduction of information technologies. The analyzed judicial practice indicates problems in the classification of drug crimes and the distinction between drug-related offenses. Nevertheless, steps are being taken to improve legislation in the field of combating drug trafficking. Scientific and practical significance: the systematization of foreign experience contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the problem for the implementation of effective international cooperation in the fight against drug crime.