Vol 1, No 6 (2016)

The paper is devoted to some problems which were in the focus of the public attention during the preparation of the CPV XII-th Congress in January 2016. In this period there was a broad and open discussion among the political elite and intellectuals of the country, in all internet editions on the destiny of the country, the role and future development of the CPV itself in new conditions, on the democratization in the party and state. Many statements and political figures, different establishments, scientific centers and universities, public organization took part in this discussion. Many veterans - members of the party, including some former responsible functionaries, were particularly active in this discussion.

Renovation policies (doi moi) along with global development trends of the early 21st century have brought about significant change in the social structure of Vietnam. This article sets to outline three emerging social groups in Vietnam that are currently in the process of shaping their own political identity, namely civil servants, private SMEs and urban middle class. These groups have appeared or gained influence as a result of market reforms and now have their own expectations from the ruling CPV. The key issue, however, is how exactly these group interests translate into actual policies, what are the channels and forms thereof.

This paper provides an overview of the legal framework for the activities of foreign companies in Vietnam, examines the latest evolution in the country's investment policy. The author basing on international rankings and ratings assesses legal aspects of the investment climate and legislative implementation in Vietnam. The paper also estimates Vietnam's investment strategy at the present stage in terms of its matching to the current level of own economic development.

The paper describes the institutionalization process of bilateral relations between Vietnam and the European Union. It points to favorable conditions including: doi moi reform process in Vietnam as well as the end of the Cold War antagonism. The rise of mutual interest in the face of growing position of East Asia and Vietnam's stable economic growth resuited in signing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU and then enabled Vietnam and the EU to reach new level of cooperation, such as signing of free trade agreement, which according to experts may contribute to securing Vietnam's economic growth and facilitate its integration process with the global economy. In the same times the article includes the analysis of perspectives of future cooperation, with particular attention to barriers in the process. But the main thesis of the article is that despite various real and potential problems, the expansion of EU-Vietnam cooperation will continue. It is favorable for both sides.

This essay explores the history of the anti-colonial Resistance War of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, initiated by France shortly after the formation of an independent Vietnamese state in August 1945. Although Russian historiography on this period is quite abundant, the author of the present paper offers come new perspectives on the course of the war and political innovations of the DRV leadership.

The paper presents a case-study on Vietnamese women contribution into the two Resistance wars in the XXth century. The authors pay attention to their motivations for joining the revolutionary struggle and analyze the forms of such participation. Particular attention is given to the women who, for some reasons, became the symbolic figures of their time, and to how the Vietnamese state demonstrates its attitude to them.

On the basis of methodology and writings of Russian and foreign scholars on civilization systems and the geopolitics the author compares Maritime culture and the marine civilization with their onshore equivalents. He outlines the differences and the points of confrontation between these cultures and civilizations, among others through the standpoint of modern geopolitical concepts. The classification of civilizations of Russia, China and the Western powers made in the paper helps to consider their political options and civilizational choice, place of Vietnam in the frame of this dichotomy, and specify the significance to him of the author's hypotheses and conclusions.

The paper discusses the literary works of Le Van Nhan - one of the representatives of contemporary Russian language literature in Vietnam. He is characterized as a scientist-philologist, bilingual poet, and defender of Russian language, teacher and translator, people's diplomat. The author highly appreciates his activities as the Secretary-General of the Central Board of the Vietnam-Russian Association for friendship. The paper overviews for the first time the period when Le Van Nhan was invited to the Oriental Institute of the Far Eastern state University (Vladivostok) to teach Vietnamese language, where he also was engaged in written translations from Vietnamese to Russian.

The paperr analyzes the situation in Vietnamese cinema during the last decade. Today Vietnam film industry has been erected and successfully functioned meeting the artistic and aesthetic needs of Vietnamese audiences. The film industry of the country and first of all film production and film distribution are carried out by both public and private studios. The production of feature films and documentaries is also executed on television and departmental studios. Vietnamese films take part in intemational film festivals, usually in the regional ones. The author paid special attention to the activities of private film studios and their production.

The paper deals with ritual narratives of the Muong and shifts in their interpretation in Vietnam during the period from the middle of 50s of the 20th century up to the middle of the second decade of the 21st century. The author discusses narratives of various kinds, reveals their conceptual features and performance standards, as well as transformations in narratives evaluation - from considering them as «superstitions» to the recognition as a national heritage. The main attention has focused on the epic cycle of «The Birth of the Earth and Water» which is considered as a very important part of the Muong folk culture from a historical and cultural point of view.