Vietnam
France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by communist forces under HO Chi Minh, who took control of the north. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later North Vietnamese forces overran the south. Economic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficult as aging Communist Party leaders have only grudgingly initiated reforms necessary for a free market, and new leadership took over in 2006.
The Communist Party holds the real power in Vietnam, and recommends candidates for the posts of President and Prime Minister. The most important powers within the government--as opposed to the Communist Party--are the executive agencies: the offices of the President and the Prime Minister (most of whose members are also on the Communist Party Central Committee). The President functions as head of state but also serves as commander of the armed forces and chairman of the Council on National Defense and Security. According to the constitution, these bodies, as well as the heads of ministries and commissions, are elected by the National Assembly. The Prime Minister heads a cabinet composed of five Deputy Prime Ministers as well as the directors of the country's 31 ministries and commissions.
Parliament confirmed Nguyen Minh Triet, the head of the Communist Party in Ho Chi Minh City, as President in June 2006. He has a reputation for fighting corruption and is seen as an economic reformer. The former head of state, Tran Duc Luong, had submitted his resignation alongside the prime minister and the chairman of the National Assembly. The change of guard had been expected.
The Communist Party reappointed Nong Duc Manh as its secretary-general in April 2006. Manh, who is seen as a modernizer, urged Vietnam to speed up economic reforms and to tackle bureaucracy and deep-rooted corruption. He says he wants to "lift people from poverty and hunger" and to turn Vietnam into a developed, industrialised country. Mr Manh began his first term in 2001, becoming the first secretary-general with no direct experience of the struggle for independence. He oversaw five years of strong economic growth.
Vietnam is involved in an ongoing territorial dispute with other regional states over the potentially hydrocarbon rich Spratly Islands. Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan, and Malaysia all make claims to the Spratlys.
There are currently no known threats to expatriates in Vietnam, however, difficulties with visas, entry and exit cards and passports can cause travel disruptions for business travelers. In some cases Vietnamese government officials have seized passports and blocked the departure of foreigners involved in commercial disputes. Passports should not be used as security for rental of vehicles. Foreigners should also avoid border areas unless written permission is obtained from authorities in advance.
In recent years, Vietnam’s Central Highland provinces have been the scene of ethnic minority protests and clashes with security forces. Early in 2001, discontent over land, religion and corruption in the central highlands erupted into protests of unprecedented size for communist-era Vietnam. Thousands of members of the Gia Rai and Ede minorities demonstrated in Daklak and Gia Lai in what diplomats have called the worst unrest for years. Protesters injured police in clashes, damaged state property, held some ethnic Vietnamese hostage and beat officials. During times of tension, foreign diplomatic personnel and tourists are sometimes not authorized to travel to the central highland areas without prior consent from the Vietnamese government.
Foreign travelers have been detained after traveling in areas close to the Vietnamese borders with China, Cambodia and Laos. These areas and other restricted areas are not always marked, and there are no warnings about prohibited travel. Travelers should avoid such areas unless written permission is obtained in advance from local authorities.
Large gatherings, such as those forming at the scene of traffic accidents, can become violent, and should be avoided.
Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities.
