Close to a decade after the collapse of the Soviet bloc, the communist parties of China and Vietnam are not only surviving but are firmly in control. Both countries have moved decidedly away from the state-planned economies their governments championed for decades. They are now "market economies" and can look with some satisfaction to their recent records of economic performance. Yet, unlike their European counterparts, they have made this transition without undergoing major political upheavals.

Arguing that an understanding of the similarities and differences among communist countries provides valuable insights into their momentous transformations, this comprehensive volume compares recent changes in China and Vietnam. Exploring the economic, political, and social effects of reform programs, the chapters pair leading Vietnam and China scholars in a genuinely comparative analysis. Finding similarities—and unexpected differences—the authors conclude that Vietnam often has forged its own path rather than following the Chinese model.
 
Contributions by: Anita Chan, Adam Fforde, Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet, Hy Van Luong, David G. Marr, Barrett L. McCormick, Irene Nørlund, Stanley Rosen, Mark Selden, William S. Turley, Jonathan Unger, Brantly Womack, and Alexander Woodside.