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COUNTRY PROFILE: '''VIETNAM''' Library of Congress December 2005
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'''Formal Name:''' Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam).  
 
'''Formal Name:''' Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam).  
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'''Flag:''' Red, with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.  
 
'''Flag:''' Red, with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center.  
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== Country Profile: Vietnam  ==
    
* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Historical Background|Vietnam Historical Background]]
 
* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Historical Background|Vietnam Historical Background]]
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* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Transportation And Telecommunications|Vietnam Transportation And Telecommunications]]
 
* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Transportation And Telecommunications|Vietnam Transportation And Telecommunications]]
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== Government And Politics ==
      
* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Government And Politics|Vietnam Government And Politics]]
 
* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Government And Politics|Vietnam Government And Politics]]
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'''Government Overview:''' The Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) has a monopoly on power. A
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* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam National Security|Vietnam National Security]]  
three-person collective leadership consists of the VCP general secretary, the prime minister, and
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the president. President Tran Duc Luong is the chief of state, while Prime Minister Phan Van
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Khai is head of government. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh heads up not only the VCP but
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also the 15-member Politburo. A decision by any member of the triumvirate is vetted by the
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other two. As a result, policy announcements tend to be bland and equivocal.
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In July 2002, the National Assembly voted to keep Prime Minister Khai and President Luong in
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office until 2007. Khai, who is the oldest member of the cabinet and is known for his pro-reform
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policies, is believed likely to complete his 2002–7 term because of the absence of an heir
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apparent. The mechanism for transfers of power suffers from a lack of transparency.
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'''Constitution:''' Vietnam has had a series of constitutions, introduced in 1946, 1959, 1980, and
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1992. As of late 2004, the Vietnamese constitution is regarded as the 1992 document, as
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amended in 2001 to continue the reform of the state apparatus, to allow more leeway to the
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private sector, and to promote progress in the areas of education, science, and technology. The
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original 1992 constitution modestly downgraded the roles of the Vietnamese Communist Party
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(VCP) and the government in favor of reform. Instead of being authorized to do whatever was
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necessary to “build socialism,” the VCP was subordinated to the constitution and the law, while
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the government was assigned specific management functions under the direction of a prime
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minister, whose powers also were defined. In addition, the constitution called for a multisector
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economy. Although the autonomy of state enterprises was recognized, a role also was assigned to
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the private sector. Individuals were permitted to acquire lengthy land leases. Foreign investors
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were granted ownership rights and protection against nationalization.
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In 2001 the constitution was amended to increase the role of the National Assembly by giving it
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the authority to decide budget allocations and to stage votes of no confidence in office holders.
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Amendments also boosted the role of the private sector by recognizing the right to operate of any
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businesses not explicitly prohibited and lifting restrictions on their size. These revisions were
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intended to encourage the development of a cottage industry of individual traders and private
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enterprises. In the field of education, amendments established the goals of universal secondary
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education, more vocational and technical training, and easier access to education by the poor and
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handicapped.
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  −
 
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'''Branches of Government:''' The constitution recognizes the National Assembly as “the highest
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organ of state power.” The National Assembly, a 498-member unicameral body elected to a five-
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year term, meets twice a year. The assembly appoints the president (chief of state), the prime
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minister (head of government), chief procurators of the Supreme People’s Court and the
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Supreme People’s Office of Supervision and Control (the heads of the judiciary), and the 21-
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member cabinet (the executive). Once a rubber stamp, the National Assembly has become more
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assertive in holding ministers accountable and amending legislation. Ultimately, however, the
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Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) controls the executive and the electoral process. The VCP
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exercises control through the 150-member Central Committee, which elects the 15-member
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Politburo at national party congresses held every five years. Members of the party hold all senior
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government positions.
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The Vietnamese government has ministers in the following areas: agriculture and rural
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development; construction; culture and information; education and training; finance; foreign
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affairs; industry; interior; justice; labor, war invalids, and social affairs; marine products;
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national defense; planning and investment; public health; science, technology and environment;
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trade; and transport and communications.
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'''Administrative Divisions:''' Administratively, Vietnam consists of 59 provinces and 5
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municipalities. The provinces are An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-
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Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac
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Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha
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Tay, Ha Tinh, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau,
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Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu
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Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son
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La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh,
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Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, and Yen Bai. The municipalities are Can Tho, Da Nang,
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Haiphong, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh.
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'''Provincial and Local Government:''' Provinces and municipalities are subdivided into towns,
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districts, and villages. The provinces and municipalities are centrally controlled by the national
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government. The towns, districts, and villages are locally accountable to some degree through
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elected people’s councils.
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'''Judicial and Legal System:''' At the apex of the judicial system is the Supreme People’s Court
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(SPC), which is the highest court for appeal and review. The SPC reports to the National
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Assembly, which controls the judiciary’s budget and confirms the president’s nominees to the
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SPC and Supreme People’s Procuracy. The Supreme People’s Procuracy issues arrest warrants,
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sometimes retroactively. Below the SPC are district and provincial people’s courts, military
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tribunals, and administrative, economic, and labor courts. The people’s courts are the courts of
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first instance. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has military tribunals, which have the same rules
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as civil courts. Military judges and assessors are selected by the MOD and SPC, but the SPC has
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supervisory responsibility.
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Although the constitution provides for independent judges and lay assessors (who lack
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administrative training), the U.S. Department of State maintains that Vietnam lacks an
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independent judiciary, in part because the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP) selects judges
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and vets them for political reliability. Moreover, the party seeks to influence the outcome of
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cases involving perceived threats to the state or the party’s dominant position. In an effort to
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increase judicial independence, the government transferred local courts from the Ministry of
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Justice to the SPC in September 2002. However, the Department of State saw no evidence that
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the move actually achieved the stated goal. Vietnam’s judiciary also is hampered by a shortage
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of lawyers and rudimentary trial procedures. The death penalty often is imposed in cases of
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corruption and drug trafficking.
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'''Electoral System:''' Vietnam has universal suffrage at age 18. Elections for the National
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Assembly are scheduled every five years. The last election was held on May 19, 2002. The next
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election is scheduled in 2007. In addition, elections to the people’s councils (local assemblies)
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were last held in April 2004. Although candidates are carefully vetted, about 25 percent of those
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elected were not members of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP). By a law enacted in
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2003, each district has at least two more candidates than the number of elected positions.
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'''Politics/Political Parties:''' Vietnam is a one-party state. The Vietnamese Communist Party
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(VCP) has a monopoly on power.
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'''Mass Media:''' Vietnam’s mass media are supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Information
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and communicate officially approved information. The government has shut down non-
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compliant newspapers. Only senior officials are permitted access to foreign television via
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satellite. Given Vietnam’s close supervision of official media outlets, dissidents have sought to
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disseminate their views via the Internet, leading the government to impose restrictions on
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Internet use and access. The regime controls Internet access via Vietnam’s sole gateway,
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Vietnam Data Communications. In 2002 the Ministry of Culture and Information began to block
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access to Internet Web sites it considers “subversive,” such as the BBC’s Vietnamese language
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Web site. Also in 2002, the government sent a warning by jailing activists for publishing critical
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commentaries on the Internet. Altogether, Reporters Without Borders documented seven cases of
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dissidents being imprisoned or detained for illicit Internet use. The government also has
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tightened controls over cybercafés. In 2004 the government reprimanded 65 cybercafé owners
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for violating restrictions on Internet access, including the viewing of pornography.
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'''Foreign Relations:''' During its incursion into Cambodia in 1978–89, Vietnam was isolated
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internationally. However, soon after the conflict was resolved in the Paris Agreement on
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Cambodia in October 1991, Vietnam established or reestablished diplomatic and economic
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relations with most of Western Europe, China, and other East Asian countries. Vietnam joined
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the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995 and the Asia-Pacific Economic
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Cooperation forum (APEC) in 1998. Vietnam’s foreign policy is aimed at developing good
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relations with a diversified mix of nations.
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In February 1994, the United States lifted its economic embargo against Vietnam, and in June
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1995 the United States and Vietnam normalized relations. However, these relations remain
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somewhat volatile. Full implementation of a bilateral trade agreement, which came into effect in
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December 2001, is being held up by a dispute over catfish exports. In July 2003, the
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International Trade Commission decided in favor of the United States in the catfish dispute.
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Vietnam’s government is also upset with a bill introduced in the U.S. Congress in July 2004 to
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link non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam’s human rights record. In June 2005, a high-level
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Vietnamese delegation, led by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, visited the United States and met
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with their U.S. counterparts, including President George W. Bush. This was the first such visit in
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30 years. The leaders engaged in far-reaching discussions, including lingering issues from the
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Second Indochina War, but the United States did not endorse Vietnam’s bid to join the World
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Trade Organization (WTO) during the visit.
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Ideological affinities are driving improved relations with China, and trade between the nations
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soared to reach US$7.2 billion in 2004. But despite improved relations, Vietnam remains
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suspicious of China’s intentions. In January 2000, China and Vietnam signed a treaty defining a
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common land border. However, the countries both claim sovereignty over the Spratly and
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Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, and this dispute is a potential source of renewed tension.
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Vietnam enjoys a good political and economic relationship with Japan, and the two countries are
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partnering to exploit the disputed offshore oil fields in the South China Sea. At a meeting in
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Hanoi in July 2004, foreign ministers from the two nations pledged to strengthen the partnership.
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Already a major trading partner and investor, Japan promised to boost direct investment in
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Vietnam. Japan also offered support for Vietnam’s bid to join the WTO. In December 2004,
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Japan announced a grant of US$19 million to fight poverty in Vietnam.
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Russia’s predecessor state, the Soviet Union, was a longstanding ally and a major investor.
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Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia reduced its investments in Vietnam. Trade
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also suffered as a result of a dispute over the large debt that Vietnam owed the Soviet Union.
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This debt has been restructured to Vietnam’s benefit so that Vietnam now must repay only 15
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percent, with payments stretched over two decades. Part of the debt is repayable in commodities
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such as rice and coffee.
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'''Membership in International Organizations:''' Vietnam is a member of the Asian Development
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Bank, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the International Monetary Fund, the
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United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Reflecting Vietnam’s recognition of its
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place in the global economy, in 1995 Vietnam joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
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(ASEAN). Now an observer at the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam hopes to become
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a full member of the WTO in 2006.
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Other memberships include the Colombo Plan for Cooperative Economic and Social
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Development in Asia and the Pacific, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
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International Atomic Energy Agency, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
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(World Bank), International Civil Aviation Organization, International Development
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Association, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Finance
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Corporation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International
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Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, Interpol, International Olympic
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Committee, International Telecommunication Union, Nonaligned Movement, Organisation for
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the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,
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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Industrial
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Development Organization, World Confederation of Labor, World Customs Organization, World
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Federation of Trade Unions, and World Intellectual Property Organization.
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'''Major International Treaties:''' With the United States, Vietnam reached the following
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agreements: Normalization of Relations (1995), Bilateral Trade (2001), and Counternarcotics,
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Civil Aviation, and Textiles (2003). With China, Vietnam reached a Land Border Agreement
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(1999), an Agreement on Borders in the Gulf of Tonkin (2000), and a Declaration on the
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Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (2002). With Russia, Vietnam agreed to a Strategic
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Partnership (2001).
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Aside from these bilateral agreements, Vietnam is a signatory to numerous international
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agreements on biological weapons, chemical weapons, civil aviation, counterterrorism,
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diplomatic immunity, nuclear nonproliferation, and war crimes. Notable agreements on the
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environment include the following: Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other
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Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques (1978), Convention on Early
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Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986), Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear
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Accident or Radiological Emergency (1987), Convention for Protection of the Ozone Layer
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(1988), Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1989), and United
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Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1994).
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== National Security ==
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* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam National Security|Vietnam National Security]]
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'''Armed Forces Overview:''' Since Vietnam fought against the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia
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in 1978–89, it has demobilized about 500,000 troops and cut military spending. Still, Vietnam
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has one of the region’s largest and most powerful militaries. Furthermore, the People’s Army of
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Vietnam remains politically influential, and many senior officers have obtained leadership
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positions in the Central Committee and Politburo of the Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP).
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The military’s prestige stems from its formidable track record against such major world military
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powers as France, the United States, and China and its deep roots in society.
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'''Foreign Military Relations:''' Vietnam cooperates militarily with India and China. Vietnam
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advises India on how to combat guerrilla warfare. India helps maintain Vietnam’s MiG fighter
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planes and helps Vietnam manufacture small- and medium-sized weapons. In 2001 Vietnam
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bolstered its military cooperation with China. Russia has reduced its military presence in
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Vietnam since it abandoned control over the Camh Ranh Bay Naval Base in 2001 because it
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could not afford the expense.
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'''External Threat:''' Despite having fought a border war with China in 1979, Vietnam does not
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face an identifiable military enemy. However, sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands in
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the South China Sea remains in dispute with China and several other nations. In addition,
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Cambodia and Laos have protested incursions by Vietnamese squatters.
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'''Defense Budget:''' In 2003 Vietnam’s defense budget was estimated at US$2.3 billion.
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'''Major Military Units:''' Vietnam’s active-duty military consists of a 412,000-member army, a
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42,000-member navy, a 30,000-member air and air defense force, and a 40,000-member
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paramilitary border defense corps. The army, which is deployed in nine military regions
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(including Hanoi), consists of headquarters, 58 infantry divisions, 3 mechanized infantry
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divisions, 10 armored battalions, 15 independent infantry regiments, special forces and airborne
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brigades, 10 field artillery brigades, 8 engineering divisions, 10 to 15 economic construction
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divisions, and 20 independent engineering brigades. The navy, including naval infantry, is
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deployed in four naval regions. The People’s Air Force consists of three air divisions, each with
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three regiments.
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'''Major Military Equipment:''' The army is equipped with 1,315 main battle tanks, 620 light
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tanks, 100 reconnaissance vehicles, 300 armored infantry fighting vehicles, 1,380 armored
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personnel carriers, 2,300 towed artillery, and more than 30 self-propelled artillery. The army also
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has an unspecified number of combined gun/mortars, assault guns, multiple rocket launchers,
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mortars, surface-to-surface missiles, antitank guided weapons, recoilless launchers, air defense
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guns, and surface-to-air missiles. The navy has 2 Yugo-class submarines, 6 frigates, 1 corvette,
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12 missile craft, 10 torpedo craft, 19 inshore patrol combatants, 10 mine warfare ships, 6
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amphibious ships, and at least 30 support craft. The People’s Air Force has 189 combat aircraft
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(53 Su–22, 12 Su–27, and 124 MiG–21) and 26 Mi–24 armed helicopters.
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'''Military Service:''' Military service is compulsory, usually for two years. In late 2001, Vietnam
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reinstated the requirement that women register for military service. However, barring an
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emergency mobilization, they are unlikely to be called up. Mandatory military service for
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women had been abandoned in 1975 at the end of the nation’s civil war.
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'''Paramilitary Forces:''' Vietnam has a 4-million to 5-million-member paramilitary reserve force,
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consisting of the People’s Self-Defense Force and the rural People’s Militia.
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'''Police:''' The Ministry of Public Security controls the police, a national security investigative agency, and other units that maintain internal security.
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'''Internal Threat:''' The government seeks to prevent the expression of views critical of the
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government and non-sanctioned religious worship. When some dissidents sought to evade
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official media controls by using the Internet to disseminate their views, the government
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responded by introducing Internet restrictions. Although dissident activity generates substantial
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press commentary, it does not pose a threat to the regime’s stability.
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  −
The Montagnard ethnic minority represents a special case. This group is seeking a return of its
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ancestral lands in the Central Highlands. The Montagnards, who traditionally have opposed the
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communist government, receive support from overseas Vietnamese, particularly the United
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States-based Montagnard Foundation. After a violent clash with demonstrators in April 2004, the
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government boosted its security presence in the region.
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'''Terrorism:''' Following al Qaeda’s attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, Vietnam
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expressed sympathy for the victims and qualified support for the war on terrorism. Vietnam
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urged that any steps taken against terrorists be consistent with international cooperation within
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the bounds of the United Nations Charter, target the culprits, and avoid larger-scale warfare.
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In April 2004, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) issued a draft decree to combat money
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laundering as a source of terrorist financing. This move followed pressure from the United
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States, which denied requests by the Vietcombank and the Vietnam Bank for Investment and
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Development to set up representative offices on the grounds that they could be used to finance
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international terrorism.
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  −
'''Human Rights:''' In its 2004 report on Human Rights Practices, the U.S. Department of State
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characterized Vietnam’s human rights record as “poor” and cited the continuation of “serious
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abuses.” According to the report, the government has imposed restrictions on freedom of speech,
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freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. Citizens are denied the
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right to change their government. The government continues to hold political prisoners who have
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expressed views at odds with government policy. Prison conditions are generally “harsh, but not
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unduly so given the country's level of economic development,” according to the State
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Department assessment. Vietnam has no independent judiciary, and there is no right to a fair and
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speedy trial. Human rights organizations are not permitted to operate. Discrimination against
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women and ethnic minorities, child labor, and prostitution are serious problems. The government
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is attempting to address the child labor issue.
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  −
 
  −
The government officially provides for freedom of religion and recognizes Buddhist, Roman
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Catholic, Protestant, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, and Muslim denominations. However, non-sanctioned
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groups, including branches of even the recognized denominations, face harassment. Furthermore,
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the government insists on supervising the clergies of the sanctioned groups (by approving
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appointments, for example) in the interest of “national unity.”
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  −
 
  −
In April 2004, 20,000 to 30,000 members of the Montagnard ethnic minority gathered to protest
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for the return of their ancestral lands in the Central Highlands and an end to religious repression.
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Human Rights Watch alleges that hundreds of demonstrators were wounded and at least 10 killed
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in a clash with Vietnamese officials and civilians. The Vietnamese government is concerned that
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the Montagnards are seeking an independent state.
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* [[Directory:Vietnam/Vietnam Map|Vietnam Map]]
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Library Of Congress December 2005<br>
 
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