Gorbachev's ghost

   After Perestroika & Glasnost, lesser known 'Doi-Moi' can be credited to have added to the pragmatics of leftovers of the 'Proletariat Regime' in the world.

It was 'renovation' (as the word means) and not 'revolution' that was inaugurated by the Sixth Party Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1986. That renovation was aimed at bringing increased economic liberalisation for making Vietnam an export & market driven economy. That modification, mind you, was only 11 years after the ultimate victory of the Communist North in unifying the country (1975) after defeating the US and about three years before the fall of Berlin Wall, which marked the ultimate 'end of ideology' by the demise of communism in Europe. Despite having suffered the ravages of war, Vietnam registered steady average growth of about 8% to its GDP in 1986-97, which continued to about 6.8% in 1997-04 even against the financial blood-bath in South East Asia. However, with seasonal rural unemployment touching 35%, inflation at around 9% and about 20% population living below the poverty line, the Vietnamese' quest to emerge as an export hub of agriculture and textile products would be severely compromised if 'Doi-Moi' is not strengthened and rejuvenated.