“Public utilities” refers to services that are indispensable to the functioning of the government, the economy, and society as a whole. This article examines the concept of public utility in Vietnam and compares it with the concepts adopted in the United States and China from legal and theoretical perspectives. It clarifies the criteria and significance of legally recognising public utilities. Although the laws in the three countries may identify different public utilities depending on their regulatory objectives, such determination ultimately serves to protect the public interest and provides a legal basis for state intervention in the activities of service providers. Based on the comparative analysis, the article identifies shortcomings and limitations in the Vietnamese legal framework for identifying public utilities, particularly regarding the theoretical basis, purposes, and criteria for such identification, and proposes some recommendations for improvement.
