The U.S. State Department on Monday boosted Vietnam's ranking in a human-trafficking report, even as it cited concerns that the Southeast Asian country had failed to investigate government officials complicit in trafficking crimes.
A rights group last week accused Hanoi of giving misleading information and attempting to cover up trafficking cases involving officials in its communication with U.S. officials over the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
Washington removed Vietnam from a watch list in the 2024 report, citing "overall increased efforts" on trafficking, including submitting an antitrafficking law to the legislature for review, increasing prosecutions and assisting more victims.