The critical importance of the Soviet role in Vietnam's economic reforms - fact or fallacy?

Abstract

At its Sixth National Party Congress in December 1986, a drastic leadership change occurred in the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). Truong Chinh, Pham Van Dong and Le Due Tho all stepped down from top Party positions, accepting most of the blame for the country's appalling socio-economic condition. The new leadership that replaced them, led by Nguyen Van Linh, is now faced with the task of reforming the country's ailing economy. To do this, it has embarked on a wide-ranging series of economic reforms. As these reforms gain momentum in the second half of the 1980s, it has seen the concomitant rise of a new class of leaders in the Politburo labelled as "reformers", the most prominent of whom are the country's new leader, Nguyen Van Linh, and the State Planning Commission Chairman. Vo Van Kiet. Show more