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NEW
OPENNESS
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Dec 1986
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Doi Moi, "New Openness", declared. Free market
economy begins. Greater personal freedoms granted.
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1987 |
As economic conditions in Vietnam improve, a U.N. High
Commissioner of Refugees program of voluntary repatriation of boat people
in Hong Kong and elsewhere took hold, running for almost a decade (to
1997).
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1988 |
Viet Nam starts a program to demobilize 800,000 PAVN troops,
reducing the regular army from 1.2 million to 500,000 and the militia
from 1.7 million to 1.6 million militia (many full-time soldiers). PAVN
consisted of 14 military corps, 61 infantry divisions (48 regular infantry
divisions and 13 economic construction divisions), 5 air divisions (including
1 helicopter division) and a large navy.
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PAVN also included the paramilitary People's Regional
Force of 500,000, largely light infantry companies, and the People's Self-Defense
Force (reserve militia) of about 2.5 million.
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1988 |
Viet Nam substantially reduced its forces in Laos.
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Jun 89 |
At Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, students and intellectuals
demanded a more open political system at a democracy and reforms rally
and the government sent in tanks and troops killing or wounding 1,000s.
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Sep 89 |
Vietnam withdraws virtually all troops from Cambodia by
September 1989.
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1990
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Last Vietnamese troops withdraw from Cambodia
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1990 |
The European Community (now the European Union) established
official diplomatic relations with Viet Nam.
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1990 |
The People's Republic of China undertakes a major campaign
to revive the image of Mao (who died in 1976).
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Late 1990 |
Demobilization has reduced PAVN forces by some 500,000
(300,000 shy of the 800,000 target) to a force of 800,000 regulars and
1.6 million militia.
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MODERN
VIETNAM
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1991
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Soviet Union collapses.
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1991-1993 |
In the early 1990s the government ended price controls
on most agricultural production, encouraged foreign investment, and sought
to improve its foreign relations.
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1991 |
Viet Nam signed a peace agreement with Cambodia. The peace
agreement also forged the way for strengthening relations with the members
of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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1991 |
Viet Nam restored diplomatic relations with China.
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1992 |
Viet Nam signed a 1976 ASEAN agreement on regional amity
and cooperation, regarded as the first step toward eventual ASEAN membership.
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1992 |
Viet Nam established diplomatic relations with South Korea.
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1992
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Former anti-Vietnam War protester W.J. Clinton becomes
President of the United States.
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1994
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United States removes a trade embargo against Vietnam.
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1995 |
Viet Nam and the United States agreed to exchange low-level
diplomats, although full diplomatic relations (which involve opening embassies
and appointing ambassadors) have not yet been established.
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1995 |
Communist Party launches a self-criticism campaign.
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28 May 97 |
The final U.N. High Commissioner of Refugees voluntary repatriation flight out of Hong Kong took place with about 100 passengers, bringing the total voluntarily repatriated to Vietnam over a decade to 57,000 people. |
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Apr 2000 |
22,597 prisoners were released under a special amnesty
to mark the 25th anniversary of South Liberation Day, and thousands of
others had sentences reduced. Only two prisoners of conscience were known
to have been released in the April amnesty.
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1 Jul 97 |
As China took control of Hong Kong, some 3,000 Vietnamese
boat people remained in Hong Kong.
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A self criticism campaign launched by the Communist Party
in 1999 continued throughout the year, as did campaigns against official
corruption and crime. A revised Criminal Code came into effect in July.
In the latter part of the year the country suffered the worst flooding
in decades, resulting in the deaths of more than 500 people. In November
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Nov 2000 |
Outgoing President Bill Clinton became the first US president
to visit the country since the Viet Nam war.
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Sep 2001 |
Per Amnesty International's 2001 Report on the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam, "Dozens of prisoners of conscience and possible
prisoners of conscience remained in prison throughout 2000, and restrictions
on released prisoners continued to be harsh. Political dissidents and
religious critics of the government were subjected to surveillance, harassment
and denial of basic freedoms, including freedom of expression. At least
five possible prisoners of conscience were sentenced to prison terms.
The government continued to prevent independent human rights monitors
from visiting the country. More than 110 people were sentenced to death
and at least 12 executions were carried out."
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[ before the french | french indochina | the second war |
america's war ] [ south vietnam's peace | after the fall | lessons learned ] |
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[ HOME | HISTORY ] |