The culture department in Hanoi is poised to issue two codes of conduct at a time next year, one for local public servants and the other for everyone in the Vietnamese capital.

The department initiated preparatory work for the sets of rule as early as 2012, but it is not until 2017 will the code of conduct really be released, department head To Van Dong said Friday.

Dong said the department had to be cautious in preparing the rules, so it has spent the last five years attentively listening to feedback from the public, the press and researches to ensure the rules will be effectively followed and supervised.

The drafts of the codes of conduct were open to public feedback late 2014, but were immediately doubted for their feasibility.

The final, carefully revised versions will take effect on January 1, 2017, setting the norms for Hanoi public servants to follow when in office, and for locals to behave in public places.

No collarless shirts at workplace

The code of conduct for Hanoi public servants, applicable for all employees of state and military entities, consists of six chapters and 16 articles, aimed to “build a professional, standard and effective administration for the capital city.”

The rules cover behaviors at office, between coworkers and agencies, and between state servants and members of the public.

According to the code of conduct, Hanoi public servants should not wear shirts without collar and sleeves, or dresses shorter than knee, to work.

Tattoos are also banned at the workplace, and the public servants should wear “proper perfume, cosmetics or jewelry.”

A public servant (R) is pictured wearing collarless shirt in Hanoi.

The code of conduct bans public employees from swearing, chitchatting during work hours, and cooking at workplace.

Activities such as smoking, drinking alcohols, wearing headphones, listening to music, watching TV and playing video games are also prohibited during office hours.

The Hanoi department also sets rules for relationship between public servants, stipulating that they should never feel envy with each other or “have fawning behaviors toward their bosses.”

In return, those holding high positions have to “set examples for their subordinates.”

According to the code of conduct, those who follow the rules will be praised and awarded, whereas those going against it will be “publicly criticized.”

A code of conduct for everyone

In the meantime, the other code of conduct for the public consists of three chapters and eight articles, aimed to “build up an elegant and civilized image for Hanoi.”

The rules are applicable for “all organizations and individuals who live, work, study, visit, and stay in Hanoi.”

It stipulates the correct and proper manners for specific locations, from the pavements and train, bus stations to parks, monuments and supermarkets and shopping malls.

People ignore the "No step on grass" sign to pose in Hanoi.

Dong, the culture department head, admitted that despite the careful preparation, it remains a challenge whether the codes of conduct will be effectively implemented.

“What matters is where public servants and city dwellers welcome and follow these rules,” he said.

Dong admitted that the department had earlier sought public feedback for the codes of code on its website, but received no responses.

“We have had to task district-level authorities with soliciting feedback from residents in their localities,” he said.

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