The Socialist Republic Of Viet Nam

I.)
Fast-Facts;
>Land Area: 331, 210 sq. km. (slightly bigger than Philippines) > Population: 91 million (est. 2014) >Capital: Hanoi >Currency: Dong
>Independence Day: September 2 1945 > Religion: Buddhism 85%, Christianity 8%, Islam 3%, Others (animism,etc.)
II.)
Political Structure:
**EXECUTIVE BRANCH:
President: Truong Tn Sang (elected on July 25, 2011, elected to a five-year term by the National Assembly)
Prime Minister: Nguyen Tan Dung (since June 27, 2006, elected to a five-year term by the National Assembly but can be removed by President)
Type of Government: Single Communist-party dominated Constitutional Republic; Communist Party of Viet Nam is the dominant political party
in Viet Nam; thus, political leaders could run the election upon the approval of the CPV
**LEGISLATIVE BRANCH:
>National Assembly (unicameral legislative body; on the basis of democratic centralism,-is the highest state organ, elected members
based on secret ballots under democratic elections)
**JUDICIAL BRANCH:
>Supreme Peoples Court (highest judicial organ)- the Chief Judge of the SCP is elected by the National Assembly.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT: Vietnam is divided into 58 tinh (provinces) and 5 municipalities- Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai-phong, Hanoi
and Ho Chi Minh City. Each tinh (province) and municipality has legislature called PEOPLES COUNCIL and the local executive body called
PEOPLES COMMITTEE.
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III.)
Viet Nam as Communist State: A Critical Scrutiny
10 Planks of Communism (Communist Manifesto)
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS:

EVALUATION

NO
( 0- not
manifested)

1.)

2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)

6.)
7.)

8.)

YES
(1-slightly
manifested)

Abolition of property in land

And
Application of land to public purposes
A heavy progressive or graduated income tax
Abolition of all rights of inheritance
Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and
rebels
Centralization of credit in the banks of the state;

By means of a National Bank with

State Capital

An Exclusive monopoly

(3- highly
manifested)

(4-very
highly
manifested)

Centralization of the means of communication

and transport in the hands of the state.
Extension of factories and instrument of
production owned by the state;

The bringing into cultivation of waste

lands

And the improvement of the soil

generally in accordance with a
common plan
Equal obligation of all to work.

Establishment of industrial armies

especially for agriculture

Combination of agriculture with manufacturing

industries;

Gradual abolition of all the distinction

between town and country by a more
equable distribution of the populace
over the country
10.) Free education for all children in public schools.

Abolition of childrens factory labor in

its form.

Combination of education with

(2moderately
manifested)

9.)

industrial production, etc.

TOTAL WEIGHTED POINTS:
MEAN:

EVIDENCE (MERITS OF DISCRETION)

I.)

Abolition of property in land (Moderately Manifested)

According to Nguyen (2010), the Vietnam Law on Land Reforms of 1953 strongly mandated the State through its government to
confiscate all lands including farms of colonial rule within the state, the land of capitalist and landlords. These land were distributed to
the farmers under the slogan of FARMS TO THE CULTIVATORS- hence, there is an abolition of private property in terms of land and
these were redistributed to the farmers. The primary objective of this law is to establish a socialist base for agricultural production.
Furthermore, this was strengthen by the 1980 Viet Nam Constitution indicating under Article 19 that LAND..belongs to the STATEall under the ownership of people. With this provision, it proclaimed that the state through its government is the sole owner of
Land, however, it has the capacity to make individuals or households to become co-owners of land, thus a corporate ownership.
However, this indicator (the abolition of private property) has been now moderately manifested as compared to earlier years (VERY
HIGHLY MANIFESTED) because of the DOI MOI principle (principle of economic renovation) that led to the land reforms of 1987,
1993 and 2003. Doi Moi principle as extracted from the 1993 and 2003 Land Reform Laws reconsidered the role of private sector in
order to boost the economic vitality of Viet Nam since the state is permitted to transfer and lease out land to organizations, individuals,
etc. for long term stable use. Though, capitalism, as socio-economic force, tried to penetrate the Viet Nam economy, the government
had took its stand in maintaining a socialist regime; thus, modifying capitalism into a social market economy like China that the
government is still the main economic actor and the citizens are the co-workers of the government in achieving national development.
Application to Land to Public Purposes (Very Highly Manifested)
As the 2003 Land Reform Law has been passed, the government must be more open and transparent in formulating rules regarding
on the establishment, review and proclamation of plans regarding land to be used. This law also empowers the States role in land
management in which the State, as only capable entity through its agencies, has the capacity to determine the purpose of land as far
as it is for the benefit of the people of Viet Nam. This strategy also assures that the government is providing an equal opportunity
among citizens to simultaneously progress in terms of agricultural activities since Viet Nam is an Agricultural country.

II.)

A HEAVY PROGRESSIVE OR GRADUATED INCOME TAX ( VERY HIGHLY MANIFESTED)

According to Viet Nam Official Business Portal Online and Index Mundi (UN Economics and Business Portal):
Government of Vietnam imposes: VAT (value-added tax; 10%), Corporation Income Tax (28%), Personal Income Tax (40%)
WHY? Because Viet Nam assures that every citizen receives a justifiable salary that correspond to the value of their labor; economic
democratic centralization (higher income for working force; higher taxesmore capital for the government, the more it becomes
stable economically and politically)

III.)

Abolition of the rights of inheritance (HIGHLY MANIFESTED)

WHY? 2003 LAND REFORM LAW; The State may allow land users to pass on the right to use land to another person within the
duration of the lease. BUT THE STATE ABOLISH THE RIGHT OF INHERITANCE (MANA in Filipino Context) because the state, itself,
must be the only entity that can manage all state resources in which land can be categorized of.
NOT VERY HIGHLY MANIFESTED: (Comparative Politics, China has more rigid Land Reforms Laws as compared to Viet Nam yet
Viet Nam is already a good example for this criterion)

IV.)

Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels ( VERY HIGHLY MANIFESTED)
According to the perspective of the Communist Party of Vietnam, any person who is challenging or to some extent, opposing the
aspirations of the Vietnamese government, then that person is the enemy of state; thus that person must be faced sanctions including
heavy fines such as confiscation of property and imprisonment.

V.)

Centralization of Credit in the Banks of the State (Moderately Manifested)**DOI MOI **State Bank Of Viet Nam
By Means of National Bank with State Capital (Moderately Manifested, *Vietnin Bank 45%)
Exclusive Monopoly (Not Manifested; Controlled Competition) *Private Companies: Vietnam Motor Industry, Masan Group of
Companies (Construction)

VI.)

Centralization of the Means of Communication and Transport in the Hands of State (Very Highly Manifested)
VTV (1970)- Vietnam Televesion
VTV 1 (News and Information Channel), VTV 2 (Science and Technology), VTV 3 ( Sports and Lifestyle), VTV 4 (Youth
Channel)
Radio: Lao Dong, Hanoi Radio, Cong Aui
Note: Prohibited to speak against the Government; Vietnam War, etc.

VII.)

Extension of Factories and Instrument of Production owned by the State (Moderately Manifested)
The Bringing into Cultivation of waste (reserved) land (Highly Manifested) *Technology

Improvement of Soil Common Plan (Highly Manifested)

VIII.)

Equal obligation of all to work (Very Highly Manifested; 40 million working force, division of labor)
Establishment of Industrial Armies (Moderately Manifested) **Post-Industrialization vs. Agriculturalism

IX.)

Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries ( Highly Manifested)

Gradual Abolition of all the distinction between town and country ( Slightly Manifested)

X.)

Free Education of all children in public school (SLIGHTLY MANIFESTED)

Reason: Primary grade (elementary level only); expensive books, uniforms
According to Article 42 (1992 Constitution): Every Citiizen has the right and obligation to education
According to Al Jazeera (Arab TV Network): Vietnam imposes high-cost education during secondary to tertiary level
>Abolition of Child Factory Labor (Very Highly Manifested)
Legal Age of Work: 18;
But at least 4.9 million children (5-7 undergone child labor; but in agricultural sector)
>Combination of Education with Industrial Production (Moderately Manifested)

Empirical Approach: (BASED ON CLASS-INTERVALS; STATISTICAL TOOL)

4.00-3.01 ----------------------------------------- Highly Communist state (Marxist State)
3.00-2.01 ----------------------------------------- Moderately Communist State
2.00-1.01 ---------------------------------------- Toward Communist Status
1.00-0.01 ---------------------------------------- Not a Communist State (Non-Marxist State)
DECISION:
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-EJBACUD