Starting on January 1, 2017, Hanoi’s new code of etiquette for civil servants will take effect.
According to Tuoi Tre, the code spans six chapters and includes 16 rules, covering topics such as professional dress and polite communication in addition to prohibiting smoking, drinking alcohol and wearing earphones during work hours. The new code also requires civil servants to use “proper” fragrances and cosmetics and bars government workers from showing any tattoos.
Nguyen Ngoc Tien, author of Di Doc Ha Noi, questioned whether the code of etiquette violated individual rights, according to the news outlet.
Tien told Tuoi Tre in Vietnamese: “Our ancestors have been tattooing for ages. However, most importantly, if [tattooing] is not offensive, there is no problem with it, because everyone has the rights to beautify themselves, including applying fragrances, cosmetic products or getting tattoos…”
In response to such concerns, Director To Van Dong of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism argued that the code of etiquette is actually subtle, noting that officials in the capital have taken into account that each public institution or organization has different preferences. According to Dong, civil servants are expected to observe what is “proper” in their respective organizations.
If you’re wondering how these rules will be enforced, civil servants are also encouraged to monitor their colleagues’ behavior, according to Tuoi Tre. At the moment, Hanoi has no plans to create an independent watchdog to monitor potential violations of the new code of etiquette.
Officials in the capital began drafting the code in 2012, reports the news outlet. Two years later, Dong and other cultural authorities submitted the draft to the Peoples’ Committee for consideration. Since then, the approval process has taken longer than expected due to a lack of public engagement on the matter.
Moving forward, however, Hanoi officials are keen to take their etiquette requirements beyond government offices and into the streets: according to VnExpress, the capital recently launched a new public campaign aimed at improving Hanoians’ manners.
