Abstract

This article examines approaches to lawmaking that encourage voluntary compliance in Vietnam through the socio-legal theories of legitimacy and legal trust. Against the backdrop of the implementation of Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW of the Politburo, dated April 30, 2025, on reforming lawmaking and law enforcement, the study argues that the regulatory effectiveness of the legal system depends not only on coercive power but, more fundamentally, on procedural fairness, predictability, and the capacity to foster public trust. Employing normative legal analysis alongside an empirical assessment of compliance costs, regulatory overlaps, and law-enforcement practices, the article proposes a comprehensive set of solutions to shift the legislative mindset from control-oriented regulation toward development-enabling governance, improve the quality of legal human resources, and adopt responsive regulation to foster a sustainable culture of respect for the rule of law in Vietnam.

Keywords: Legal legitimacy, legal trust, lawmaking, Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW, voluntary compliance.