Vietnam’s Public DiplomacyEdit

Following the US pullout in 1976, Vietnam experienced little economic growth due to an infrastructure and population devastated by war, isolation after the invasion of Cambodia to overthrow the Khmer Rouge in 1979 and an overreliance upon Soviet assistance and models of economic development. Yet since 1986, the enactment year of “doi moi," or “renovation," policy, Vietnam has steadily sought increased relations outside the (now former) Eastern Bloc to stimulate economic growth and trade. Continued liberalization and structural reform has fueled a rapid export-led industrialization plan. This modernization and its economic linkages have provided Vietnam with the need to cultivate important diplomatic and cultural exchanges that sustain such relationships.

Becoming a popular tourist destination in recent years, Vietnam continues efforts to draw in foreign interest. Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides guidance for the nation to maintain its global connections. In May 2006, President Luong urged ambassadors to promote Vietnam worldwide, and to cooperate fully with foreign leaders by providing country information that can further economic success. The country is also vigorously bidding to join the WTO and is thus seeking to stabilize friendly relations with its global trade partners.

Educational ExchangeEdit

The Vietnam Education Foundation is an independent federal agency created by the US government in order to strengthen the Vietnam-US relationship through educational and cultural exchange. Running a well established fellowship program, the Foundation places highly capable Vietnamese graduate Science & Technology students in American universities. The organization also hosts several summer seminars and ongoing projects that provide a valuable intellectual link between the two nation’s top scientists and researchers.

Vital InformationEdit

• Population - 84,402,966 (July 2006 est.)
• Capital – Hanoi
• Government – Communist State

• Chief of State - President Nguyen Minh Triet
• Head of Government – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

Government AgenciesEdit

• Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Communist Party of Vietnam Online News
• Vietnam News Agency 

Private & Independent OrganizationsEdit

• Vietnam Education Foundation
• KOTO – Know One, Teach One
• Sunflower Mission – Educational Assitance
• VACETS
• PeaceTrees Vietnam
• Google Vietnam – Social Organizations Listings

Important LegislationEdit

International Broadcasting & News AgenciesEdit

• Voice of Vietnam
• Vietnam Television

Public Opinion Polls & NewsEdit

• Iraq vs. Vietnam: A Comparison of Public Opinion
• Poll: American Attitudes on Iraq Similar to Vietnam Era

BlogsEdit

• Vietnam Journalism - The most popular blog on journalism by a Hanoi-based journalist-blogger
• Down & Out in Saigon - The blog of an expatriate teaching English for a living in Sài Gòn city
• Noodlepie’s Vietnam Blogs – a listing of top blogs on Vietnam
• danh ba viet nam - a listing of top company in Vietnam
• WinMain Software Solution - Best company about IT in Viet Nam

‘’’Other Resources’’’

• CIA World Factbook – Vietnam
  
  

PbWinter 11:01, 19 Jun 2006 (PDT)