The Vietnamese Economy: 1985-1991

The Vietnamese Communist Party in the mid-1980s

Astonishing levels of continuity in the top leadership between 1930 and 1991. During that time, a total of approximately 30 persons had served in the party's governing politburo.

Leadership was overwhelmingly a collective one and lacked the cult of the personality of Stalin and Mao: Ho Chi Minh did not accept that kind of position while alive. Something resembling actual democratic centralism existed within the politburo. This made it possible for significant debate to occur without the "purge-like" consequences this would produce in the Soviet Union or in China.

Splits in the politburo did develop: over China versus the Soviets (one politburo member, Houng Van Hoan, defected to China in 1979); and over the nature and pace of reform.

By the mid-1980s, the revolutionary leadership group had aged and was no longer capable of vigorous leadership (those into their late 70s and even 80s included: PhamVan Dong, Le Duan, Vo Nguyen Giap, and Troung Chinh)

In July 1986, Le Duan - General Secretary for 26 years - died. His death came during a remarkable process of ferment within the highest party officials.

In late 1985, Nguyen Van Linh - dismissed from the politburo in 1982, was reinstated.

In May 1986, Le Duc Tho openly acknowledged shortcomings in party leadership: age, sycophancy and opportunism, corruption, and a patriarchal attitude toward younger leadership

At the sixth party congress in December 1986, Nguyen Van Linh was named General Secretary