Much has been made about Vietnam’s recent economic growth spurt (a whopping 7.4% on average over the last five years) and its admission into the World Trade Organization last November–big steps for a developing country.  Ever since the 1990’s, when Vietnam opened its borders to increased trade, (the U.S. and Vietnam signed an open trade agreement in 2000) the country’s economic situation has been on the up and up.  In fact, the largest importer of Vietnamese goods is the U.S.  Conversely, the U.S. has exported many of its products to Vietnam,  so that now Vietnamese can also enjoy Oreos, Pepsi, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Yep, Kentucky’s own export has made great inroads in the era of economic freedom in Vietnam.  Colonel Sander’s face grins down from many a sign in Saigon.

What hasn’t made the news is the political liberalization of Vietnam.  In fact, when I do a google search for ’political liberalization Vietnam’ there is very little that I find, and even less that I can access.  Two blogs that come up on google’s top ten have not opened in any of the cities I’ve tried (Curious if one can outside the country or if they are just dead sites.  http://vietpundit.blogspot.com and www.queme.net/eng/ Please let me know what they say if you can access them).  I have been unable to access Human Rights Watch or other such sites as well.

Until recently, Vietnam’s socialist government kept close tabs on its citizens, prohibiting them from staying in hotels, and requiring them to seek permission to meet with a foreigner.  I’m under the impression that things have changed a lot (though I have no basis for that thought).  What gives me pause, however, is the lack of access to information about life in Socialist Vietnam and the knowledge that people advocating for democracy are subject to arrest (see the link to the article on the right about an ethnic Vietnamese U.S. citizen’s return to his birth country).

Additionally, as an independent tourist in Vietnam, I feel surprisingly like I am part of a very controlled tour group.  This is because most tourism is done through tour companies, relegating travelers to tourist buses as opposed to the public transport that locals use.  While this happens in other places (Thailand has a rather polished system to bus tourists from Bangkok to the beaches that involves lots of stickers) the degree to which it happens here is, well, stifling.  To be fair, I haven’t tried very hard to find a public bus, but the few inquiries I’ve made have been neatly segued into a sale for a tourist bus ticket.  Furthermore, the limited number of destinations keeps tourists neatly corralled in a few cities and pleasant beach towns.

So as Colonel Sanders makes in-roads in Vietnam, let’s hope the hands-off economic policy that has welcomed him brings with it a hands-off attitude to society and politics.

FYI– I arrived back in the U.S. last night, having waited to publish this post from outside the country (excessively precautious, but I didn’t want to deal with either a) being detained or, more importantly b) somehow losing my post to the censors!). Sure enough, I can access site related to Vietnam’s political scene outside of the country.

On another note, just because the adventure is over doesn’t mean that the writing is. I have a backlog of posts in my head and will continue writing at least a few more. I hope that you’ll keep reading.