After 22 years, Vietnam is still at a deadlock. Why?
There is a vicious cycle over 22 years.
Starting the cycle is the presence of a totalitarian regime in which the basic rights are denied: no freedom, no democracy, human rights are violated (1).
There is privilege of powers and profits: about less than 2 % of the population has this privilege: the high ranking cadres and communist party members. That is a new priviledged class: the red capitalists.
Bureaucracy & corruption are two special features in the Vietnamese Communist administration.
Because of this privilege and monopoly of power, only communist members have the rights to run the nation. Those people do not have the talent to operate the government, but they are very smart at controlling people and seizing power. They have no vision, lack of fundamental knowledge, irreasonable policy and no justice.
The consequences: the economy is underdeveloped and weakened despite the increased number of foreign investment. The economy comes to a deadlock.
According to recent reports: the Per Capita GNP is $250, only above Cambodia, Nepal, and Afghanistan (Laos : $ 325; Kenya: $ 293; Mongolia: $ 335....) (2).
Most of national income belongs to the communist party members, eg. 2 % of the population of which a very small number of cadres enjoy power and profits, where 90 % of the population are poor, especially in rural areas. The gap between the rich and the poor is wider.
In consequence, education and health care get downhill. Crimes increase (prostitution, drugs, crimes, corruption). And the society declines.
And the cycle starts again with the presence of the Vietnamse Communist Party.
(1) The US Department of State: Vietnam Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996. (2) Asiaweek May 9, 1997 issue, Bottom Line.
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