Recent news reports about Vietnam’s development by international  media agencies and online newspaper networks together with many foreigners’ eye-witness accounts of major socio-economic achievements of Vietnam, ...have consolidated our confidence in the country’s orientations and strategies for development. 

But, whereas  the renovation process (Doi Moi) is in full swing with great historic significance, laying a firm foundation for the whole population’s determination to strive for their future, a number of online forums launched by some elements of overseas Vietnamese and some offshore-based websites, out of their ignorance of realities in the country, are distorting in an extremely acid way Vietnam’s Renovation process. Such slanders and allegations are being echoed by a handful of persons at home under the pretext of “The Democratic Movement,” in an attempt to complicate things and hamper development, lending a hand to some elements who with their sinister political plots are nurturing hostility against a renewed Vietnam.

Although their goodwill can often be taken with a pinch of salt, foreign news agencies have reported  on positive Vietnam’s economic growth which is forecast to continue at an impressive rate of 7-8% per annum in 2006-2007. Agencies such as the BBC and Business Monitor International (BMI)  have reported on continual growth in the service sector, especially retail sales, finance and telecommunications. They express the belief that Vietnam’s annual growth rate at 7.5% - 8 % may be sustained until at least 2010. The budget deficit, according to BMI, reduced from 7.2% of the entire GDP for 2003 to 5% last year. Vietnam is now in the transitional period from an agricultural economy into an industrial economy. In 2005, the agricultural sector rose by only 4% while the industrial and service sectors increased by 10.6% and 8.5% respectively. According to BMI figures, these two sectors currently account for 80% of Vietnam’s revenue while the agricultural sector accounts for only 20%. Such figures should not puzzle anyone, except those who have evil intentions, trying to avoid looking at the truth and objective reality. Instead, they clung to allegations and distortions. So, any achievement and any good sense by any individual towards that achievement, can become the target of their slanders.

In their noisy “campaigns”, repeated topics, or articles copied from one website to another in an attempt to cause a false feeling of massive opinion,  the matter of ‘socialist orientation’ has become a focal point. They have used the pretext of ‘theory’, ‘science’ or even ‘concern for future’ to reject or deny such realities in Vietnam, considering them an ‘illusion’, running counter to the trend towards progress, or an imposition by the Party. They have even distorted with a narrow-minded view that socialist orientation is merely a question of power, and  that  ‘by nature, the socialist orientation is only for the protection of economic and political vested interest of the ruling party...’

All this means that the ‘Socialist orientation’ has been in the spotlight and is being undermined by the enemy who want to attack the ideological foundation and revolutionary fruits of the Communist Party and people of Vietnam. This is nothing new, but in the new type of information struggle, such complicated tricks pursued by hostile forces may confuse or worry some individuals who have inadequate knowledge about the country.

In the past century, when discussing the values that highlighted certain social systems in mankind’s history, French scientist M.Godelier commented that the salient feature in ancient Greek society was politics; that in the Middle Age society was religion; economics in capitalist society; and culture in socialism. From studies of anthropology, Godelier pinpointed the features of different social systems. However, in order to grasp the root cause of such features, it is crucial to understand the nature and the rule of choice for the development trend of social systems as mentioned by Godelier. First, it should be pointed out that all social systems in humankind’s history from the socio-economic mode of slave-owning society to socio-economic capitalism there always existed a gap of conflicting interests among different groups of people in establishing the mode of production. This concludes in essence that all societies from ancient Greek to capitalist ones are characterised by social classes and class suppression. That has driven politics to play a decisive role towards the performance of each social system. It’s because all activities concerning relations between classes, nations and social strata, with the struggle for power as the core, to maintain and use state power, the participation in state affairs, the clarification of forms of organisation, tasks and content of State operations. That not only decides the nature but also the orientations for development. So it depends only on the fact that whether that political system is sharp, scientific and capable enough.

Such a dialectical relationship is characterised by the fact that each set of politics seeks its own values as social targets or orientation. These values play a major role in establishing the whole dynamic, actions and principles maintaining a social framework, always vigilant for possible deviations. However, the choice as mentioned above also rests with people’s awareness of the inevitable and objective rule of social evolution. In other words, it is necessary to clarify whether the answer is based on ‘voluntary or spontaneous thinking’. In the history of humanity, the bourgeoisie has no interest in going beyond capitalism. This means they had never let proletariat and working people become a leading social force.

On the other hand, it should be stressed that in the contemporary world, it is likely that ‘coerced’ economic unification, especially cultural unification would lead to political unification. It is not coincidence that the demand for ‘independence within interdependence' has become a vital principle of each and every nation and state that wants to seek a solution to the problem of global integration while still maintaining and conserving features that created its identity. Against this background, a voluntary orientation in regards to this development strategy has become imperative. This means development without planning, orientation and purpose  would be suicidal.

By having intentionally ignored such vital principles, those resorting to the label of “democracy” are trying to introduce what they call “scientific analyses” to reject the socialist orientation of Vietnam. They try to turn a blind eye to a reality that the Party and State of Vietnam are encouraging everyone to become wealthy in an honest manner, and create favourable conditions for different economic sectors to bring into full play their capacities. But would it make sense if that only widened the gap between the rich and the poor? Without State regulation, what would the majority of people benefit? Getting rich and working towards common objectives, bringing wealth to everyone is the essential difference between a ‘socialist orientation’ and the ‘trends’ being propped up by enemies and hostile forces. Is it possible that they are nurturing a dream of becoming the kind of ‘politicians’ to play a political drama at the expense of labouring people? It’s ridiculous for those residing overseas, who have not done anything for the nation, to shamelessly try to preach to Vietnamese people at home. It’s ironic that those who have made a name for themselves thanks to the Party and the nation but have turned their back to deny the very things that made them. In society, speculation at the expense of the people is one of the worst faults.

For Vietnam, the goal of national independence closely linked to socialism shows the righteousness of the development orientation in the past 76 years of Vietnamese revolution since the birth of the Communist Party of Vietnam. National independence and socialism have rallied material and spiritual strengths of the entire nation to wrest back independence and launch wars of resistance to defeat powerful imperialists, and gradually build and develop the new society, while undertaking a renovation process. With the comprehensive renovation process underway, Vietnam is determined to continue its chosen path which is the persistence in and creative application of Marxism-Leninism in the country’s actual situation, the inheritance of Ho Chi Minh Thought in the new context of globalisation and integration. So, it is a socialist orientation that is the guideline for the path ahead to reach our ultimate goals. Therefore, in both theory and practice, our socialist orientation stems from reality and conveys in itself the aspirations of any Vietnamese person of good sense. Only those who lack good will and good sense, twist these facts. The question is that whether those people who reject our socialist orientation, who are ‘concerned’ about the country, don’t want the nation and people to enjoy wealth, equality, democracy and civilisation? Are they not aware that the key characteristics of socialism as stipulated in the Platform for national construction in the transitional period towards Socialism (1991) constitute fundamental features of a new society, being pursued not only by Vietnam but many other nations worldwide? While being loud about the struggle for democracy, are they ignoring the truth that the country is renovating far and wide? Answers to these questions would clarify the nature and motive of those who are noisily denying the path towards socialism in Vietnam.

Having undergone the two long and hard wars of resistance with great final victories, Vietnam bore serious wounds that could hardly be healed overnight. Consequently, the country came out of the war with a ravaged economy, a war-torn nation where  generations of elite youth had laid down their lives in the battlefronts, and millions of others fallen victim of the wars; hostilities and  the trade embargo dragged on for many years. To make things worse was the backward, small production way of thinking, subjectivism, voluntarism and the attitude to ‘drink victory to the dregs’ feeling while planning restoration and development schemes. All these created a inertia, a stagnation which continued until the 6^th National Party Congress (1986) where the Party drew valuable lessons to restore and develop the country. This period saw more upheavals and changes in the world than when the country won independence and became reunified in 1975. At the 6^th Plenum of the 6^th Party Central Committee, for the first time, the concept of a socialist orientation was initiated which was further clarified in Party Congress and Plenum documentation in the following terms. As a new concept of realistic significance, our socialist orientation has proven its righteousness through political, economic, cultural and social achievements. Such positive results are convincing evidence that our socialist orientation is the only correct choice for Vietnam in the 21^st century.

While asserting the path towards Socialism, we are fully aware that it is a multi-step process and can be attended by both complicated impact from subjective and objective reasons, particularly the ability to abandon the old, rigid way of thinking, the central planned economy, and the subsidy system which were no longer relevant. In the meantime, the country had to solve fundamental issues of the relationship between market economy and socialist values and a law governed Socialist State thus meeting social needs. This action also aims at achieving the ultimate goal that is a developed, prosperous, equitable and civilised society, a new height in the relationship between economic and cultural, social and human development. In this society, the need for humanism is no less significant than the aspiration for development against poverty. So what’s the point of those who keep criticising our socialist orientation about its path ahead?

Vietnam’s renovation process is poised between advantages and challenges which asks for concerted efforts, strong determination and consistence and sober-mindedness. Building a new society would involve millions of people of different generations. Confidence and consensus have enabled the country to mount all trials and hardships to wrest back independence. That spirit will continue to lift the nation in its national construction and defence, working towards the fine objectives of national independence and socialism for ever more achievements. Building a prosperous socialist Vietnam will be the answer to whoever wants to hamper the nation’s path towards future.

By TRAN QUANG HA