Résumé
This study explores the role of quantification in the public management of the Covid-19 crisis in Vietnam, a country with unique cultural, historical, and political characteristics. Drawing on data from over 24,000 responses from university lecturers and students, this research questions the effectiveness of “governance by numbers” in a context of globalcrisis where the legitimacy of public decisions was crucial. Our central research question is as follows: How did transparency and the intensive use of quantitative data influence public perception and Vietnamese citizens’ support for the decisions taken to manage the pandemic? To explore this question, the study draws on the notion of governance bynumbers, a paradigm in which quantitative data is used to guide, legitimise, and measure public policies.This approach is analysed within a theoretical framework that explores the performative role of numbers as vectors of trust and support, particularly in times of crisis. The work of Desrosières and Supiot, as well as theories on quantification and crisis communication, guided the analysis. A questionnaire was distributed online to Vietnamese university lecturers and students between October 2021 and January 2022. The responses were analysed using descriptive statistical methods and machinelearning techniques to identify variables influencing respondents’ satisfaction with public management.The survey included questions on the perception of numbers, trust in public decisions, and the role of data in the crisis management strategy. Several significant results were observed. Firstly, strong support for the numbers. Secondly, the central role of quantification, with numbers validating public decisions and structuring crisis management. We also noted a high level of overall satisfaction, with 92% of respondents rating public management of the pandemic as satisfactory, reinforced by intensive, transparent communication via dashboards and media campaigns. Finally, an unexpected result related to response time revealed possible censorship or disintereston the part of sceptical or critical respondents.The research highlights the performativity of numbers, which not only reflect reality but also construct it. However, it also highlights the potential limitations of governance by numbers, including bias, oversimplification, and the risk of reducing citizen influence on public decisions. In conclusion, governance by numbers has fostered trust and supportin Vietnam, a context in which cultural values such as social harmony and solidarity have amplified the impact of public policies. This research invites us to explore the relationship between quantification, culture, and crisis management in other contexts.