Vietnam+Political+System

Political System


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Form of Government – Socialist republic Government Bodies – The Communist Party’s governing council, the Politburo, sets national policy and exercises control over all governmental bodies. HISTORY AT A GLANCE 3000 to 1000 B.C Groups of nomadic tribes from southern China migrate into the Red River Delta region and merge with Indonesian peoples already living there. 939 A.D The Vietnamese win independence from China and set up an independent state under the rule of the Ngo dynasty. 1910 to 1939 Two radical Vietnamese religious sects, Cao Dai and Hoa Hao, are founded 1940-1945 – Japan takes control of Vietnam for France during World War II. Millions of Vietnamese die during wartime famine. 1957 – National Liberation Front’s Communist guerrillas begin attacks against South Vietnamese forces after Diem cancels elections for a united Vietnamese government. The United States sends military assistance to South Vietnam. 1963 – Diem is overthrown in a military coup 1969 – Peace negotiations to end Vietnamese conflict begin in Paris 1975 – South Vietnam surrenders to North Vietnam on April 3. The united nation is organized under the name of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The boat people exodus begins. 1986 – Conservative leaders of Vietnam’s ruling Politburo resign, opening the way for moderate social and economic reforms.

(CIA Worldfactbook)

For thousands of years the Chinese controlled most of northern Vietnam, the southern portion was being heavily influenced by Indian culture. Indian sailors traveling from India to China established ports along Vietnam’s southern coast, which became small kingdoms. The most famous kingdom was Champa. Here, religious kings ruled, bringing Buddhism to the region. When the Vietnam people freed themselves from Chinese rule, they wanted more control over the Indian kingdoms as well. Eventually, the entire region was brought under Vietnamese control. On July 2, 1976, North Vietnam and south Vietnam were reunited. The country was renamed the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, led by a communist government with its capital in Hanoi. (Willis, 2002)

The Vietnam’s Flag has a red background, with a yellow star that stands for communism. It was adopted in 1955 by North Vietnam and used as Vietnam’s flag after reunification. (CIA Worldfactbook)