US embassy cable - 04HANOI908

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HANOI 000908 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PD; EAP/BCLTV 
HO CHI MINH CITY FOR OGBURNR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OIIP, VM, DPOL 
SUBJECT: INFLUENCE ANALYSIS - VIETNAM 
 
REF: SECSTATE 033359 
 
1. Per Reftel request, Post provides an Influence Analysis 
statement on Vietnam. 
 
2. The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has a monopoly on 
political power.  A hierarchy topped by the Politburo sets 
its policies.  The decision-making process is opaque to 
most observers and usually slow. Input for discussion is 
provided by government think-tanks, party councils, etc. 
The research capacity of these institutions is usually 
weak; ideology and obsolete thinking often predominate. The 
National Assembly, however, is changing from a purely 
rubber-stamp institution to one holding limited discussion 
of policy.  Public opinion does not guide government 
policies except as expressed through "grassroots democracy" 
exercises within the CPV and its "mass organizations" under 
the Vietnam Fatherland Front. 
 
3. Vietnamese media carries no overt criticism of State or 
Party policies. The media positively covers GVN leadership 
and policies, international development support for 
Vietnam, and other indications of Vietnam's increasing 
political and economic integration with the world. 
Ideological attacks on the U.S. and USG policies, fairly 
standard throughout much of the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam's history, have virtually disappeared over the past 
year. Use of international wire service reports for 
international news has increased. 
 
4. Every newspaper, magazine, journal, etc. is sponsored by 
a CPV or government entity, which is responsible for its 
content.  Editorials in major newspapers such as "Nhan Dan" 
("People") are clearly ideologically driven and generally 
lack balance, credibility, and domestic readership. The 
press is sold in stores, on the street, and by 
subscription.  Despite the GVN's media monopoly of 
information, a wider variety of newspapers and programming 
has emerged, catering to market tastes (i.e., sports 
newspapers, fashion magazines, non-ideological soap operas, 
etc.).  Since the economic reform policies began in 1986, 
advertising has become commonplace, magazine formats have 
brightened up, and new periodicals are sold which are more 
useful commercial marketing tools.  New news periodicals 
are being published.  Compliance to GVN dictates remains 
enforced through censorship, self-censorship, and legal and 
extra-legal government actions.  Press distribution outside 
the major cities is limited to local newspapers and major 
national dailies such as "Nhan Dan,""Lao Dong," and "Quan 
Doi Nhan Dan." 
 
5. A national TV broadcast system has four channels with 
assigned thematic areas.  One predominantly covers current 
events, another entertainment, another education, and a 
fourth mixed themes for the overseas Vietnamese audience. 
These channels are broadcast throughout the country, with 
spotty provincial coverage.  City and provincial TV 
channels feed news to national TV for rebroadcast and carry 
national TV's coverage.  The broadcast network provides 
current events reporting and commentary, sports and 
entertainment, including U.S. and other foreign films, and 
educational programs appropriate for a predominantly rural, 
agricultural economy. National and local TV occasionally 
cover USG assistance programs and other Mission activities 
in Vietnam, but Mission broadcast media placement is very 
difficult.  Foreign films and international news footage 
are sometimes broadcast without permission. 
 
6. There is a national radio broadcast system and 
provincial and city stations as well.  A system of public 
address systems in towns and villages continue to provide 
local news and commentary.  Internet is presently found in 
cities and towns, but not countryside. Slow access speed 
has discouraged web research, but speed is increasing 
rapidly. Laws controlling domestic and foreign websites and 
downloading "sensitive" information may discourage internet 
use to disseminate foreign ideas to domestic audiences, 
although these regulations are rarely enforced. 
Authorities, however, have punished activitists who have 
used the internet to share critical opinions under the 
charges of espionage or "damaging national solidarity." 
 
7. Limited foreign press is available by subscription and 
at outlets catering to tourists and expatriates such as 
hotels and the very few, small English-language bookstores. 
Articles on GVN's vaguely defined "sensitive issues" have 
been censored.  Cable access to international channels such 
as BBC and CNN is limited to major cities.  On rare 
occasions movies on these channels have been censored by 
the GVN.  The government limits the import, publication, 
and sale of foreign books to the Vietnamese, particularly 
in Vietnamese translation. 
 
8. Press and even broadcast placements concerning Mission 
and USG humanitarian and economic development activities in 
this constricted media environment are possible.  Broader 
discussion in the media of political and foreign policy 
issues or other USG policies that differ from GVN views is 
not yet possible. Mission's media placements, however, do 
provide the public and target audiences a picture of the 
USG's supportive involvement in Vietnam. As Vietnam 
economically thrives and the government loosens 
restrictions on its citizens, new social and economic 
groups will coalesce from the general public and seek 
influence over government policies and activities. Press 
activities address these future groups, yet undefined 
within the general public. 
 
9. A positive media picture of ongoing U.S. support for 
Vietnam's integration and increased bilateral mutual 
understanding is necessary and useful. It is the backdrop 
to public diplomacy programs aimed at target audiences that 
now or will have influence or input within Vietnam's 
political system, as well as to private discussions between 
Mission members and their counterparts on U.S.-Vietnam 
relations. 
 
10. Post Public Diplomacy goals include: 
 
Goal 1.  Economic Growth and Development:  Post will create 
a media backdrop for economic discussions with interviews 
and other placements, which repeat USG support for 
Vietnam's transformation into a market-oriented economy 
integrated into the international economic system, clarify 
free-market principles, and support US commercial 
interests.  It will provide briefings on economic issues to 
engage and educate journalists.  It will also support 
speakers and exchanges with university educators, 
government and CPV officials, and private entrepreneurs on 
these subjects. 
 
Goal 2.  Close Ties with Allies and Friends:  PAS will 
address the general public and target audiences with 
placements highlighting US support for regional stability, 
and U.S. Armed Forces engagement through humanitarian 
projects, etc.  DOD and State Dept. will target GVN's up- 
and-coming military leaders and foreign policy thinkers 
with exchanges, speakers, and representational events. 
 
Goal 3.  Proper Visa Adjudication: PAS will support 
Consular Section briefings to academic and business groups 
on student, exchange, commercial, and tourist visas 
application procedures to help applicants assemble and 
present proper information for adjudication, reducing 
misunderstandings. PAS also will seek media placements 
explaining new NIV visa procedures protecting U.S. 
security. 
 
Goal 4.  Universal Human Rights Standards: Generally only 
the foreign press carries Mission media statements 
supporting human rights. Statements to the VOA and BBC 
Vietnamese Service, however, do reach Vietnamese listeners, 
political activists, and members of the domestic media, 
some of whom are sympathetic to human rights issues, even 
though they may not cover these issues to our satisfaction. 
Post will disseminate information on democracy and human 
rights by mail and the internet to receptive audiences in 
academia, government, and the CPV. PAS translates important 
documents such as the Human Rights Report, the 
International Religious Freedom Report, and other IIP 
material for use by Mission officers. 
 
Goal 5.  Global Health: Post will address the general 
public and target groups through the media with information 
on HIV-AIDs and education programs as well as other health 
programs, FAS and DAO's humanitarian programs, and USAEP's 
environmental projects. 
 
Goal 6.   Mutual Understanding.  Government and CPV 
officials are directly targeted in the hope that better 
understanding will result in economic, political and social 
policy adjustments that the USG would welcome. Academics 
exchanges will add to our understanding of Vietnam's youth. 
Broader youth audiences will be targeted through press 
placements, through exchange and cultural programs, and 
through American Corners. 
 
PORTER