In-depth study of country governance and development

Vietnam is nation located in Southeast Asia, bordering China, Laos and Cambodia. The country has a long coastline, with hills and mountains in the interior. According to July 2009 estimates, there are 86 million people in Vietnam (CIA World Factbook, 2009), most of whom are Vietnamese by ethnicity, with a handful of indigenous groups and a small Chinese minority.

Vietnam is a communist state, bearing the title of "socialist republic." This has been the predominant political situation for the unified Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War. There is only one political party allowed. The nation was formerly a kingdom and a French colony. The economic system of Vietnam is based around two principles. The first is Communism, which drives the large, state-owned enterprises. In recent years, however, the nation has undergone rapid economic liberalization, which has resulted in an explosion of small family-owned enterprises. Since the latest reform efforts began in 2001, the nation's economy has grown rapidly, with a growth in manufacturing for export to augment traditional agricultural enterprises. The country now benefits from the highest rate of investment in the world (Ibid.). The nation remains, however, 55.6% engaged in agriculture.

The history of Vietnam is a long one, dating back at least a thousand years. Seminal events that defined the nation included repelling Mongol invasions. A string of kingdoms and empires ruled the land until the French set up their Southeast Asian colony. Independence was declared in 1945 following the Second World War, and a subsequent war with France culminated with full independence in 1954. Instability in the subsequent years brought the Communist Party increasing power and ultimately led to involvement by the United States. Following that war, known in Vietnam as the American War, the country has existed as a Communist state.

Vietnamese people are generally polychromic, in particular with respect to privacy and family relations. They are high-context people who value and gather information about their world to be used later to guide behavior in different situations. Vietnam is a high power distance culture, where roles are formally defined and accepted. The have high uncertainly avoidance. For example, when meeting somebody they will first ask that person's age because age guides certain rules of etiquette. It would be awkward for a Vietnamese to not know somebody's age because they would be unsure of how to address that person or of that person's formal authority with respect to their own.

Vietnam is a masculine country as well (Nguyen & Hau, 2007). The people are ambitious, as the explosive growth of their economy indicates. They have clearly defined gender roles as well. Yet, they are a collectivist country. The family remains the strongest group for a Vietnamese, but they also function in neighborhoods and circles of friends. Despite the clear gender roles, they work together for solutions and generally eschew the individualist ethic.