Vietnam Currents by Hai V. Tran returns to publication with the topic of students demonstrations in Vietnam in opposition to Chinese hegemony and historical roots in Communist takeover of Vietnam in 1975 and executions by Ho Chi Minh in the Land Reform of 1955-56. Articles in Vietnamese by [Fr] Phan Van Loi in Hue and Bloc 8406 dissident Vietnamese cite this history and encourage the students in Vietnam with spontaneous demonstrations.   more »

Vietnam: The culture of uncultured leaders by Hai V. Tran. After the initial shock and grief over the death of 50-plus laborers on Wednesday, Sept. 26 during the construction of a bridge on a branch of the Mekong River, Vietnam's blogosphere is up-in-arms about the indifferent and callous attitudes of the leaders in the Ministry of Transport and other government big shots. Most criticism is leveled at Minister Ho Nghia Dung, who refused to stop a regular meeting in Hanoi when informed of the catastrophe. His spokesman first casually claimed that because of the rain in previous days, landslide might have contributed to the collapse of the scaffoldings. Hence, the weather was the culprit. Thus, don't blame us! Some officials from the ministry of transport reveal, under request for anonymity, that the main Vietnamese contractor subcontracts the work twice, resulting in several small companies with questionable ability and workers' skills to assume such a complicated and high-profile project. The implication is that, as a matter of business practice in Vietnam, each subcontracting always includes the "greasing of the palms" of several officials, including those from the ministry of transport itself. Thus corners are cut, materials are downgraded, and the product is never up to what had been promised!... Hai Tran came to America as a refugee in 1979. He now lives in Virginia and works for the U.S. federal government.    more »

Vietnam Currents June 15, 2007 by Hai V. Tran. Issues of human rights instead of trade and business should occupy the conversation between President Bush of the USA and President Triet of Communist Vietnam on June 22, 2007 visit to Washington.   more »