Vietnam

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The West's focus has shifted to China and India, but Vietnam is rapidly emerging among its Asian counterparts. A remarkable period of social change has seen foreign investment ushering in capitalism within its nominally communist framework, with bustling cities absorbing smaller villages and modern living challenging traditional family and community structures. However, an authoritarian political system complicates the nation's apparent progress. In this insightful work, journalist Bill Hayton explores the costs of change in Vietnam, questioning whether this rising power is genuinely moving toward capitalism and democracy. Drawing on vivid eyewitness accounts and relevant case studies, Hayton addresses a range of contemporary issues, including shifts in international relations, the growth of civil society, economic challenges, and the evolving democracy movement alongside the country's notorious internal security. His fresh analysis of Vietnam’s "police state" and its mechanisms of social control, coercion, and surveillance is crucial, especially when juxtaposed with his portrayals of urban life, cultural legacies, religion, media, and the arts. With a strong historical and cultural context, Hayton investigates how these issues have developed and their implications for Vietnam's future trajectory.