[diesel00]

Saigon is thriving and western companies are everywhere. By the looks of things, Vietnam is going to be a major economic force in Asia.

I agree on that point. I just don't agree with some of the posters here who are jumping on the Vietnam bandwagon while dismissing China's much larger (and historical) economic changes. It's beyond ironic considering that Vietnam is using the exact Chinese model of economic development to achieve this, and some FReepers here are jumping up and down at the news and dreaming of containing China with Vietnam (a country 1/40 the size of China).

[MaineVoter2002]

China's much larger (and historical) economic changes.

How much positive change can actually occur when a nation demands their own version of Google to keep their people from surfing politically forbidden websites?

[FLOutdoorsman]

China as a whole, more so the Chinese people in general operate on the Collective. The whole is more important than the individual. That is why it is so easy for them to embrace Communism.

[killjoy]

FReepers here are jumping up and down at the news and dreaming of containing China with Vietnam (a country 1/40 the size of China).

Vietnam is not going to 'contain' China, but they do have the potential to make a huge impact. If Vietnam offers a low-tax, low-corruption, alternative, western companies will set up regional offices there. If there is massive capital drain from surrounding countries like Thailand and China, it will end up forcing them to adopt similar policies, or become insignificant in the global scheme of things. This is a win win for everyone involved. It is 100% in the interest of the US to encourage reforms in Vietnam and make sure it doesn't turn out like its neighbors.