Back to
East Asian Politics page

Vietnam

GOVT 201: East Asian Politics
Sweet Briar College
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Clem
For use of enrolled SBC students ONLY.

Years	Leader(s)
1950-	(French occupation)
1955-	Ho Chi Minh	Ngo Dinh Diem
1960-	Ho Chi Minh	Ngo Dinh Diem
1965-	Ho Chi Minh	Nguyen Cao Ky
1970-	Ton Duc Thang	Nguyen Van Thieu
1975-	Ton Duc Thang
1980-	Truong Chinh
1985-	Vo Chi Cong
1990-	Le Duc Anh
1995-	Tran Duc Luong
2000-	Tran Duc Luong
2005-	Nguyen Minh Triet
Years indicated above are approximate.

Basic facts:
Political system:	One-party state
National leader:	Pres. Nguyen Minh Triet
Structure:	Unitary
Regime founded:	1992
Democracy:	None
Population:	85 million
Per capita GDP:	$3,100
Distinctive features: Written language was Romanized by French Jesuits (with special accents) in 17th century 8% Buddhist (plus many non-devout), 7% Christian 86% Kinh (Viet), plus Hmong, Montagnards, etc. Communists rallied nationalistic spirit to win wars. Doi Moi renovation campaign (1986): freer markets

Indochina map

To see a continental-scale map, roll the mouse over the map above.
Click on it to see a key that explains the map symbols.

Political parties:

Name	Communist Party of Vietnam	others
Seats*:	450	43

NOTES: * Seats in lower house.
SOURCES: CIA World Factbook

Background history

Van Lang, the first Vietnamese state, controlled by China, 111 B.C.
Under dominance of Khmer Empire, 600-1300
Three main regions: Tonkin, Annam, Cochin China
French seize Saigon, 1859, set up Cochin China colony in 1867
French colony of Indochina established in 1887
Ho Chi Minh founds Indochina Communist Party, 1930
Japan takes over from Vichy French authorities, 1940
Viet Minh resistance army founded by Ho Chi Minh, 1941
French return in 1946, war begins
French surrender to Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu in 1954
Peace talks at Geneva: country divided at 17th Parallel, 1954
Viet Cong founded in South Vietnam, 1960; U.S. advisors arrive, 1961
Gulf of Tonkin resolution, 1964; U.S. air strikes
U.S. combat troops arrive, 1965, massive escalation of war
Tet Offensive, 1968: military defeat for Commies, but political victory
Pres. Nixon begins gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces
North Vietnamese offensive, 1972, U.S. heavy bombing of Hanoi
Compromise "peace agreement," Jan. 1973; U.S. commitment declines
Communist victory, 1975; South Vietnam collapses, U.S. evacuates
Vietnam invades Cambodia, 1977, as Khmer Rouge conducts genocide
China invades Vietnam, 1979, but fails
Because of economic stagnation, "Doi Moi" renovation begins, 1986; markets!
Revised constitution in 1992 allows foreign investment, some freedom
Dispute with China over Paracel Islands in 1990s; undersea oil deposits
Further opening to West during 2000s, more freedom

SOURCES: Wikipedia, newspapers.