It's been almost 30 years since what the Vietnamese call "the American war" ended. In that time, many changes have occurred in the country's economy. While most people still work on farms, a growing number have moved to the cities to seek employment in such industries as software development and tourism. Capitalism is also creeping into this communist nation. Where once all businesses were state-run, some are being privatized. And a few Vietnamese entrepreneurs are seeking investment capital to finance their own businesses. The burgeoning economy has also helped create something never seen before in Vietnam - a middle class. Last year's passage of a new trade bill in Congress opened the door to new business opportunities by lowering tariffs on Vietnamese goods imported into the U.S. As a result, a new legal system is needed to deal with the expected increase in business.
These issues and more will be explored in this special 4th of July edition, hosted by NBR Washington Bureau Chief Darren Gersh.
On this website:
- Information about the special, including program overview, crew biographies and a behind-the-scenes narrative.
- Journals from the road by NBR's Washington Bureau Chief Darren Gersh and Senior Producer Wendie Feinberg
- Video previews of the special, plus clips and transcripts from the original NBR series
- Photo Diary and Interactive Map of Vietnam
Additional funding for NBR's Asia coverage is provided by
The Freeman Foundation.