Current Vietnam

[werewolf]

Let me explain myself a little. About two years ago I was pondering what I would like to see in a government and economy. One of my friends commented that it sounded Socialist. Up until that time I had been your average ignorant capitalist imagining horrible dictatorships at the very mention of Socialism/Communism/Marxism. Well that changed immediately as soon as I read the first basic description.

Alright my question: How is Vietnam doing currently? I have a link to their government website and from what they are saying, they are good example of a thriving Socialist Republic. I'm just wondering if anyone has seen differently.

[More Fire for the People]

Vietnam's economy is in transition from state-capitalism to corporate capitalism and this has changed the state from reflecting the Party's will to the corporate will.

[werewolf]

I had a hunch about that, which is why I asked. What a government website says and what "is" are two different things most of the time. Thanks.

[Phalanx]

It is similar to that of China. The economy, at least on paper, is growing at 7.1% annually. How much of this actually gets to the average Vietnamese? The fact is, as both Chinese and Vietnamese economies soar, the poor see little of it. You'll see skyscrapers and neon lights in cities such as Shanghai, Hanoi, Bejing, but venture off of the designated tourist path and you'll see many people still desperately poor. Now even a capitalist hierarchy is being established in both counties, whom still fly the red flag. I highly doubt Mao and Ho Chi Minh would be proud of their countries 'progress'.

[werewolf]

Ho Chi Minh especially. He didn't really have the same controlling attitude as Mao did. It seems rather amusing, but he wanted the US support against France. If the US and the UN had never stepped in, I strongly believe that Vietnam would be a complete victory of Democracy AND Socialism.

Ho Chi Minh city is considerably more Capitalist than Hanoi. Hanoi tends to be a little more reserved.