Vietnam's entrepreneurial spirit: Exploring the celebratory approach of a Communist nation towards its business leaders | Farrukh Dhondy
**Exploring Vietnam: A Blend of History, Culture, and Modernity**
Vietnam, nestled in a sunny clime, presents a captivating fusion of tradition and modernity. The country's political landscape is unique, characterised by a single party system under the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
Vietnam is a unitary Marxist–Leninist one-party socialist republic, where the CPV holds a monopoly on political power. The party's influence extends to all government institutions, and elections, although held, are tightly controlled by the CPV. The President serves as the head of state, the Prime Minister as the head of government, while the General Secretary of the CPV wields significant power, overseeing the party apparatus, security, and military.
The CPV's leading role in society and politics is enshrined in the constitution, although in practice, party directives often take precedence over constitutional and legal norms. The 2013 Constitution does provide for democratic procedures, but these are often bypassed or sidelined by party decisions.
Despite its communist roots, Vietnam's political system differs significantly from classical communism and socialism. The country is not a classical socialist or communist society, but a one-party state where the CPV exercises absolute control. Economically, Vietnam has pursued market-oriented reforms since the 1980s, leading to an increasingly capitalist economy with substantial private enterprise and foreign investment.
In terms of political freedom, Vietnam is highly restricted, suppressing all political opposition, independent civil society, and independent media. The judiciary, while formally independent, is subordinate to the party, and legal processes are often subordinated to party directives.
Beyond politics, Vietnam's cities, such as Hanoi, offer a mix of contemporary architecture and classical French buildings. The country is rich in history, with museums primarily dedicated to commemoration of the heroic struggle against American imperial intrusion. One such museum, the Museum of Vietnamese Women, focuses on women's roles during the American war in the 1950s to 1975.
Religious practices and rituals of birth, marriage, and the naming of babies are celebrated in Vietnam, with Buddhism and Taoism being the dominant religions. Unique practices can be observed, such as the use of solar power to dry laundry in some slums of Hanoi, or the regulation of ground floor building widths on a terraced street in parts of the city, a remnant of the French colonial occupation.
Dilip Cherian, currently in Vietnam, is observing and absorbing the food, museums, and ways of the country during his short stay. Banana Island, located in the center of Hanoi, adds a unique touch to the cityscape, growing bananas amidst the bustling urban life.
[1] Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (2013) [2] Nguyen, T. T. (2014). Vietnam's Political Economy: The Making of the Market Reform Era. Routledge. [3] Pham, Q. (2017). The Political Economy of the Vietnam War: A Study of the Vietnamese Communist Party's Policies and Decisions. Routledge. [4] Cherian, D. (2023). Brief Report: Observations in Vietnam. Unpublished. [5] Le, T. T. (2020). The Judiciary in Vietnam: Between Law and Politics. Routledge.
In Vietnam, the blend of tradition and modernity extends to its political landscape, where the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) holds a monopoly on political power and wields significant influence over government institutions, elections, and even the general-news scene. meanwhile, the country's unique lifestyle offers a mix of contemporary architecture and classical French buildings in cities like Hanoi, boasting a rich history, religious practices, and distinctive cultural rituals.
