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Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
VIETNAM
Government
|
Type
of Government
Formal
Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Short
Form: Vietnam.
Term
for Citizens: Vietnamese.
Capital:
Hanoi.
Government:
Socialist republic since 1980. Gained independence from France in
1954.
Head
of State: Chairman Trân Duc Luong since 1997.
Head
of Government: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai since 1997.
Language:
Vietnamese is the official language.
The present
constitution, promulgated in 1992, asserts the political supremacy of the
Communist Party of Vietnam. The 496 member National Assembly is responsible
for legislation. The Assembly is elected every five years from candidates
proposed by the CPV. Executive power is exercised by the Council
of Ministers. The Assembly elects a President, who acts as head of
state and also appoints a Prime Minister from among the members of the
Assembly. The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers who hold
executive power.
Socialist
Republic of Vietnam
The Democratic
Republic of (North) and former Republic of (South) Vietnam united to form
Socialist Republic of Vietnam on July 2, 1976. Constitution adapted
in 1980 stipulates National Assembly as highest governing body. Members
serve five-year terms and nominally directly elected by electorate.
Council of State, which serves as collective presidency, and Council of
Ministers, which manages governmental activities, nominally accountable
to, and elected by, National Assembly. Political power effectively
in hands of Vietnamese Communist Party (VCP, Viet Nam Cong San Dang).
Most government positions filled by party members, who act at direction
of party. Party led by National Party Congress, which meets infrequently.
Congress elects Central Committee, which in turn elects Political Bureau,
party's highest policy-making body.
Administrative
Divisions: The Country is divided into thirtysix provinces, three
autonomous municipalities, and one special zone. Provinces divided
into districts, towns, and capitals.
Judicial
System: Supreme People's Court; local People's Courts at provincial,
district, and city levels; military tribunals; and People's Supreme Organ
of Control. National Assembly elects Procurator General, who heads
People's Supreme Organ of Control and performs overall administration of
justice.
Foreign
Affairs: Vietnam dominated Laos through numerous Hanoi-dictated
cooperation agreements; most important--Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation
signed in 1977. Occupied Cambodia as result of military conquest
in January 1979 and subsequently negotiated Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.
Relations with China marked by China's limited invasion in 1979 and frequent
border skirmishes. Formally aligned with Soviet Union through Treaty
of Friendship and Cooperation signed in November 1978. Both countries shared
membership in Council for Mutual Economic Assistance ( Comecon--see Glossary);
Soviet Union largest donor of economic and military aid. Limited governmental
and commercial ties established with all Association for Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) members but prevented from developing further by ASEAN's
opposition to Vietnam's Cambodia policy. In 1988 no diplomatic relations
with United States, which maintained economic boycott against Vietnam and
stressed Vietnam's cooperation in accounting for servicemen missing in
action as prerequisite to normal relations. Admitted to membership
in United Nations in 1977.
Ho
Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Ho Chi
Minh City is known as the heart and soul of Vietnam. It's a bustling,
dynamic and industrious centre, the largest city, the economic capital
and the cultural trendsetter. The streets, where much of the city's
life takes place, is a myriad of shops, stalls, stands-on-wheels and vendors
selling wares spread out on sidewalks. Yet within the teeming metropolis
are the timeless traditions and beauty of an ancient culture. The
following sights are worth a visit:
Central
Ho Chi Minh City is the place to be on Sunday and holiday nights.
The streets are jam-packed with young locals cruising the town on bicycles
and motorbikes, out to see and be seen. The Municipal Theatre area
is the hub for young hipsters. Entertainment ranges from disco and
karaoke in the larger hotels, loud Western music in bars such as the Hard
Rock Cafe, dancing at the Rex Hotel or experiencing traditional Vietnamese
music at the Conservatory of Music. Most forms of entertainment can be
found in downtown Ho Chi Minh City along Mac Thi Buoi Street .
Hanoi
Hanoi,
Vietnam's capital, can sometimes look like a provincial French city.
It is much smaller, quieter, greener and more dignified than Ho Chi Minh
City. But, like most things in Vietnam, this is changing fast as
economic restrictions are lifted and old regulations are forgotten.
Life (and traffic, unfortunately) is returning to the streets. Still,
the city remains quiet enough for cycling to be the ideal means of getting
around, and many hotels and cafes rent bicycles. Hanoi has plenty
of domestic and international air connections, and is connected with Ho
Chi Minh City by the Reunification Express train.
Links
for More Information
CIA
World Factbook: Vietnam Government
The
Library of Congress Country Studies
.
Sources:
Central
Intelligence Agency
The
Library of Congress Country Studies |
