The document discusses the history and political system of Vietnam. It covers 3 key periods: 1) The independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam led by Ho Chi Minh from 1945-1975. 2) Reunification under a socialist regime from 1975-1986. 3) Vietnam as a one-party state led by the Communist Party of Vietnam from 1986 onward, with prospects for democratization. The Communist Party maintains a monopoly on political power and cracks down on dissent, though some reforms have expanded social and economic freedoms.

1. VIETNAM

2. CONCEPTS:
1.INDEPENDENT-”DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM” WITH HO CHI MINH
(1945-1975)
2.REUNIFICATION AND SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT (1975-1986)
3.THE ONE PARTY-STATE AND PROSPECTS FOR DEMOCRATIZATION IN
VIETNAM(AFTER 1980-...)

3. 1.INDEPENDENT-”DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM”
WITH HO CHI MINH (1945-1975)
Previously, Viet Nam 's socio-political and economic life was ruled over by feudal, semi-
feudal and colonial systems for many centuries.
Viet Nam 's first democratic regime was born during the national liberation revolution and
it was the fruit of the entire people's struggle for liberation under the leadership of a
communist party.
The Declaration of Independence for the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam read by
President Ho Chi Minh in Ha Noi and established the “ Democratic Republic of Vietnam”
from 1945 to 1976. it was marked the start of Viet Nam 's first democratic regime.
The Constitutional draft prepared by the Constitutional Preparatory Committee
established under Ho Si Minh's presidency was approved by the parliament and entered
into motion.Ho Si Minh became DRV's first president and prime minister in 1946

4. After 1954, socialism began to be established in North Vietnam. The land was
distributed to the poor and landless peasants through extensive land reform. In 1958, a
3-year plan for industrialization entered into force. In 1959 the DRV's first socialist
constitution was drafted.
In the meantime, political and religious freedoms ebbed and flowed depending on who
held power.Although quasi-democratic elections were conducted in the South during the
1960’s and the first half of the 1970’s, most leaders turned into dictators (Kolko 1985). In
its temporally limited ranking of civil and political liberties, Freedom House from 1972 to
1975 gave South Vietnam scores of 4 and 5 compared to scores of 7 in the North
during the same period of time. Freedom House annually ranks civil and political
liberties of countries in the world on a scale from 1 to 7,with 1 being “Free” to 7 “Not
Free.”

5. HO CHI MINH
Ho Chi Minh, who succeeded in adopting
the Marxist-Lennist idea to the public in
the direction of freedom and national
independence and adapted it to the
specific conditions of Vietnam, gave the
longest and hardest struggle against
colonialism in the 20th century.
President Ho Chi Minh used to say that
"nothing is more precious than
independence and freedom".

6. OUTCOME AND CHARACTER OF FIRST DEMOCRATIC REJIME FOR VIETNAME
-This first democratic regime brought to the Vietnamese people the most fundamental
human rights, including the right to live.
-
The new regime also gave the people the right to be a citizen of an independent and free
country, the right to participate in the country's political life, and other rights and
interests.
-This regime base on society, not parliamentary democratic process!

7. 2.Reunification and Socialist Experiment (1975-1986)
Nort Vietnam defeated South Vietnam and its supporter(ABD).After collapse of South
Vietnam regime, Democratic Republic of Vietnam and South Vietnam merged under the
title of “ Socialist Republic of Vietnam”(1975). The socialist democratic regime was the
evolvement of democracy at a higher degree.
Politics did not fare any better. With much difficulty caused by war damages and the
challenge to rebuild a new society under centralized leadership as well as restoring order,
political and religious freedoms were sacrificed.
Books were banned; listening to radio broadcast from capitalist countries was
prohibited; private publications were suspended;religious organizations were re-
organized under the directions of the State (Porter 1993).
Yet the leaders’ intention in setting up the political system was to be as inclusive and
democratic as possible, with potential for mass participation at different levels of the
power hierarchy(Beresford 1988).

8. RELATIONS BETWEEN ECONOMIC IMPLEMENTATIONS AND SOCIAL-POLITICS
STRUCTURE AND DEMOCRACY
The regime has stood side by side with the nation in the struggle for national
independence, freedom and reunification and contributed significantly to the socio-
economic development strides Viet Nam has made in its journey of renewal.
The economic and socio-political foundation of socialism that has been laid so far has
allowed Viet Nam to advance toward an equitable, democratic and civilised society and
ensured the fundamental human rights for its citizens.

9. )
There are key conditions and forces that are either accelerating or slowing
down prospects for democratization in the country.
THE CPV’S TRIPLE CRISIS
At the moment, the CPV is facing an economic crisis, a leadership crisis, and
a confidence crisis. These crises are inter-related and mutually reinforcing,
and exert a continuously negative impact on the party’s political standing.

10. OVERWIEV ON CURRENT STRUCTURE AND CPV?
POLITICAL RIGHT AND CIVIL LIBERTIES:
A) ELECTORAL PROCESS
Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through
free and fair elections?
- The CPV is the country’s only state-recognized political party, and its Politburo and
Central Committee are effectively the country’s top decision-making bodies. The
president is elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term, and is responsible for
appointing the prime minister, who is confirmed by the legislature.
Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair
elections?
Elections to the National Assembly are tightly controlled by the CPV, which took 473 of
the body’s 500 seats in May 2016 polls. Candidates vetted by the CPV, but technically
independent, took 21 seats. More than 100 independent candidates, including many
young civil society activists, were barred from running in the elections

11. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION
Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive
political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and
fall of these competing parties or groupings?
The CPV enjoys a monopoly on political power, and no other parties are allowed to operate
legally. Splits between factions within the party exist, but they are not openly aired.
Members of illegal opposition parties are subject to arrest and imprisonment.
Are the people’s political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers,
religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not
democratically accountable?
The overarching dominance of the CPV effectively excludes the public from any genuine and
autonomous political participation.

12. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other
relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities?
Although ethnic minorities are represented within the CPV, they are rarely allowed to rise to
senior leadership positions, and the CVP leadership’s dominance prevents effective advocacy
on issues affecting minority populations. While Vietnam has enacted policies and strategies
aimed at boosting women’s political participation, in practice the interests of women are
poorly represented in government, and societal biases discourage women from running for
office.
FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT
Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine
the policies of the government?
-The CPV leadership determines and implements government policy, but it is not freely elected
or accountable to the public.

13. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF
Are there free and independent media?
-Although the constitution recognizes freedom of expression, journalists and bloggers are
constrained by numerous repressive laws and decrees. Those who dare to speak out on
controversial issues also risk intimidation and physical attack.
Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and
private?
Religious freedoms remain restricted.All religious groups and most individual clergy
members are required to join a party-controlled supervisory body and obtain permission for
most activities.

14. RULE OF LAW
Is there an independent judiciary?
-Vietnam’s judiciary is subservient to the CPV, which controls the courts at all levels.
Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the
population?
-The law does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and
societal discrimination remains a problem. However, the government has been somewhat
receptive to calls for equal rights for LGBT people in recent years. Annual LGBT pride events
were held across the country for a sixth year in September 2017.
-Ethnic minorities face discrimination in mainstream society, and some local officials restrict
their access to schooling and jobs. Minorities generally have little input on development
projects that affect their livelihoods and communities.
-Women generally have equal access to education, and men and women receive similar
treatment in the legal system. Although economic opportunities have grown for women, they
continue to face discrimination in wages and promotion