Practices of Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between Vietnam and Southeast Asia Countries

This article analyzes and evaluates the cooperation mechanism between Vietnam and Southeast Asia countries on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters activities by analyzing the content of laws on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between Vietnam and Southeast Asia countries and evaluating the practical implementation of this activity to offer some solutions to improve their effectiveness. Designed as a qualitative research, this study focused on the issue of mutual legal assistance activities between Vietnam and ASEAN countries. The data was analyzed in the light of requests made by countries for mutual legal assistance on the basis of international treaties that the countries have signed or acceded to. An inductive approach was taken to examine these requests for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters among ASEAN countries. The study found out that mutual legal assistance in criminal matters is an inevitable trend in the context of economic development and international integration. This is an important content in international cooperation in the fight against and prevention of crimes, especially crimes with foreign elements and transnational organized crimes. Countries in many regions of the world have cooperated and supported each other in solving problems related to criminal proceedings to create favorable conditions in the fight against and prevention of crimes. In some cases, coordination with investigative agencies and foreign competent agencies helped to directly carry out mutual legal assistance activities in Vietnam. The study implies that mutual legal assistance in criminal matters should be carried out with the spirit of cooperation and responsibility between Vietnam and ASEAN member countries. The competent authorities in Vietnam need to strengthen the application of information technology in professional work and management of criminal mutual legal assistance.