Page "Politics of Vietnam" Paragraph 5

Vietnam is a Socialist Republic with a one-party system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam ( CPV ).

The CPV espouses Marxism – Leninism and Hồ Chí Minh Thought, the thoughts of the late Hồ Chí Minh.

The two ideologies function as a firm ideological basis and serve as guidance for the activities of the Party and state.

According to the Constitution, Vietnam is " in the period of transition to socialism ".

Marxism – Leninism was introduced to Vietnam in the 1920s and 1930s, and Vietnamese culture has been led under the banner of patriotism and Marxism – Leninism.

Hồ Chí Minh's beliefs were not systematised during his life, nor quickly following his death.

Trường Chinh's biography of " Chairman Hồ " in 1973 emphasised his revolutionary policies.

The thoughts of Hồ Chí Minh were systematised in 1989, under the leadership of Nguyễn Văn Linh.

Hồ Chí Minh Thought, alongside Marxism – Leninism, became the official ideology of the CPV and the state in 1991.

The CPV's claim to legitimacy was retained following the collapse of communism in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 by its commitment to the thoughts of Hồ Chí Minh, according to Sophie Quinn-Judge.

According to Pierre Brocheux, the author of Ho Chi Minh: a Biography, the current state ideology is Hồ Chí Minh Thought, with Marxism – Leninism playing a secondary role.

While some claim that Hồ Chí Minh Thought is used as a veil for the Party leadership since they, according to this version, have stopped believing in communism, contrary to this version, Hồ Chí Minh was an avid supporter of Vladimir Lenin and the dictatorship of the proletariat.

Others see Hồ Chí Minh Thought as a political umbrella term whose main function is to smuggle in non-socialist ideas and policies without challenging socialist legality.