“Vietnam is moving at a good speed and making up for lost time,� said Singaporean Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew during his trip to Vietnam last December.
Lee’s words exhilarated us because we know the opportunities that have been lost and will never come about again.
I think a ruling party, like the Communist Party in Vietnam, should always listen to the people to ensure opportunities are not missed.
Two recent incidents come to my mind as I am writing this. One is a decision to ban xe loi (motorbike with a passenger carriage) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. The other is the plan to cancel fireworks display on Lunar New Year’s Eve in Ho Chi Minh City.
In my opinion, both decisions were unpopular and made without consulting the people.
The authorities reasoned that xe loi caused traffic problems and claimed their shabby appearance could damage the city’s beauty. True, but there should be other ways to deal with these problems. Instead of banning xe loi altogether, Can Tho authorities could have refurbished them and transformed them into a tourist attraction just like the Cambodians have done very effectively.
As well, Ho Chi Minh City wanted to use the money earmarked for fireworks on Lunar New Year’s Eve to help the needy. But city dwellers and local media immediately voiced disagreement with the decision. When asked, many poor citizens said they wanted the fireworks. They argued the people deserved the fireworks display to celebrate the year’s achievements. Many people even suggested raising money for the fireworks plan.
This story has a happy ending – the authorities later withdrew the cancellation and Ho Chi Minh City enjoyed a Lunar New Year’s Eve with fireworks. Even better, the city’s money still went to the poor and funds for the fireworks were raised by donations.
The Communist Party’s Politburo has called for party members to study and follow the thought and virtuous life of the late President Ho Chi Minh. The essence of his thought, in my opinion, is that the authorities must do what benefits the people, avoid anything that harms the people, and consult the people to make decisions. Ho Chi Minh always asked for the people’s opinions before deciding on any issue.
Consulting the people is essential for the country’s development, especially as Vietnam aims to seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges following 2006’s successes.
Vietnam never saw so many visits by political and economic leaders from around the globe as it did last year. The list of dignitaries includes the presidents of the US, Russia and China, as well as the chairmen of super-companies Intel and Microsoft. A foreign media report asserted that about two thirds of the world’s 500 largest groups had entered Vietnam.
During his visit, Lee Kuan Yew said Vietnam could look forward to high economic growth in the next five years if it continued to attract big investment alongside its recent entry into the World Trade Organization.
Voice of America said last month, “Vietnam now has a stock market and an export turnover seven times higher [than that twenty years ago].� A recent Asia Times magazine article written by Karl D John, CEO of the TCK Group, said “many economic analysts predict that Vietnam's accession to the WTO will facilitate faster foreign-trade and capital flows and push Vietnam's economic growth above that of China this year.�
Another analyst from Hong Kong forecast that Vietnam would become one of the world’s leading exporters of garments and textiles, shipping around US$5.5 billion worth, 15 percent more than last year.
The Vietnamese stock market posted the highest growth in the Asia-Pacific region last year. A Daily Telegraph report in January said Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Group, Lloyd Blankfein, flew to Vietnam to meet central bankers and other government officials. Other groups, such as Citi Group, HSBC, Dutch Bank are interested in investing in the Vietnamese stock market. US President George W. Bush, while meeting with several business leaders during his visit to Vietnam, said that if he was young and wanted to make money, this is where he would come.
Vietnam’s prospects this year are very bright.
A former senior Vietnamese leader whom I greatly admire once told me, “it’s very difficult to do business, but the Vietnamese people can do it well because we are smart and always find a way out of difficult situations.� But, he said, the most difficult task ever will be to mobilize the people’s strength for the country’s development. I agree, especially at this point of time.
Another incumbent state leader has told reporters that the government was shouldering the heavy responsibility of mobilizing the people’s strength to grasp major opportunities and overcome enormous challenges ahead.
“Vietnam is moving at good speed and making up for lost time,� said Lee, one of Southeast Asia’s most respected statesmen. I understand that the things we missed were not just business opportunities but prospects in other areas as well. On the other hand, we have acquired plenty of experience from our missed chances. We are racing not only to catch up with what we have missed, but also to seize new opportunities and establish Vietnam’s new emboldened status.
Lee’s words exhilarated us because we know the opportunities that have been lost and will never come about again.
I think a ruling party, like the Communist Party in Vietnam, should always listen to the people to ensure opportunities are not missed.
Two recent incidents come to my mind as I am writing this. One is a decision to ban xe loi (motorbike with a passenger carriage) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. The other is the plan to cancel fireworks display on Lunar New Year’s Eve in Ho Chi Minh City.
In my opinion, both decisions were unpopular and made without consulting the people.
The authorities reasoned that xe loi caused traffic problems and claimed their shabby appearance could damage the city’s beauty. True, but there should be other ways to deal with these problems. Instead of banning xe loi altogether, Can Tho authorities could have refurbished them and transformed them into a tourist attraction just like the Cambodians have done very effectively.
As well, Ho Chi Minh City wanted to use the money earmarked for fireworks on Lunar New Year’s Eve to help the needy. But city dwellers and local media immediately voiced disagreement with the decision. When asked, many poor citizens said they wanted the fireworks. They argued the people deserved the fireworks display to celebrate the year’s achievements. Many people even suggested raising money for the fireworks plan.
This story has a happy ending – the authorities later withdrew the cancellation and Ho Chi Minh City enjoyed a Lunar New Year’s Eve with fireworks. Even better, the city’s money still went to the poor and funds for the fireworks were raised by donations.
The Communist Party’s Politburo has called for party members to study and follow the thought and virtuous life of the late President Ho Chi Minh. The essence of his thought, in my opinion, is that the authorities must do what benefits the people, avoid anything that harms the people, and consult the people to make decisions. Ho Chi Minh always asked for the people’s opinions before deciding on any issue.
Consulting the people is essential for the country’s development, especially as Vietnam aims to seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges following 2006’s successes.
Vietnam never saw so many visits by political and economic leaders from around the globe as it did last year. The list of dignitaries includes the presidents of the US, Russia and China, as well as the chairmen of super-companies Intel and Microsoft. A foreign media report asserted that about two thirds of the world’s 500 largest groups had entered Vietnam.
During his visit, Lee Kuan Yew said Vietnam could look forward to high economic growth in the next five years if it continued to attract big investment alongside its recent entry into the World Trade Organization.
Voice of America said last month, “Vietnam now has a stock market and an export turnover seven times higher [than that twenty years ago].� A recent Asia Times magazine article written by Karl D John, CEO of the TCK Group, said “many economic analysts predict that Vietnam's accession to the WTO will facilitate faster foreign-trade and capital flows and push Vietnam's economic growth above that of China this year.�
Another analyst from Hong Kong forecast that Vietnam would become one of the world’s leading exporters of garments and textiles, shipping around US$5.5 billion worth, 15 percent more than last year.
The Vietnamese stock market posted the highest growth in the Asia-Pacific region last year. A Daily Telegraph report in January said Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Group, Lloyd Blankfein, flew to Vietnam to meet central bankers and other government officials. Other groups, such as Citi Group, HSBC, Dutch Bank are interested in investing in the Vietnamese stock market. US President George W. Bush, while meeting with several business leaders during his visit to Vietnam, said that if he was young and wanted to make money, this is where he would come.
Vietnam’s prospects this year are very bright.
A former senior Vietnamese leader whom I greatly admire once told me, “it’s very difficult to do business, but the Vietnamese people can do it well because we are smart and always find a way out of difficult situations.� But, he said, the most difficult task ever will be to mobilize the people’s strength for the country’s development. I agree, especially at this point of time.
Another incumbent state leader has told reporters that the government was shouldering the heavy responsibility of mobilizing the people’s strength to grasp major opportunities and overcome enormous challenges ahead.
“Vietnam is moving at good speed and making up for lost time,� said Lee, one of Southeast Asia’s most respected statesmen. I understand that the things we missed were not just business opportunities but prospects in other areas as well. On the other hand, we have acquired plenty of experience from our missed chances. We are racing not only to catch up with what we have missed, but also to seize new opportunities and establish Vietnam’s new emboldened status.