Party call to students may prove double-edged sword

Say what you like about Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, it is a survivor.

French, US and Chinese military might couldn't wipe it out. And neither, so far, have shockwaves from the collapse of its great ideological patron Moscow, economic openness, or its new ties with the West.

Communism's continued grip on Vietnamese political rule remains, above all, its priority. It is safe to assume that the party has not come this far by being blind to threats, real or perceived. In such an atmosphere, the recent student uprisings in Indonesia which drove former president Suharto from power must have been felt more acutely down Hanoi's corridors of power than most places.

Mr Suharto would not adopt new economic ideas. He pinned his appeal on security and the greater good of the country and its development. But still it couldn't save him.

What lessons Vietnam has learned and how it reacts over the next few months could be intriguing indeed.

Don't expect a headlong rush towards openness, sweeping political reforms, or a reversal of its habitual caution when it comes to approving economic changes.