A historically-grounded examination of the dynamics of contemporary society in Vietnam - including cultural, political and economic dimensions. It focuses on dynamic tensions both within society and among societal forces, the state, and global capital.

Richly informed by in-depth field and archival research, this book offers a synthetic and accessible analysis of contemporary Vietnam. After decades of war and a socialist transformation, the country has moved toward a market economy. Echoing that shift, Vietnamese society has undergone significant changes, with increasing socioeconomic disparities among regions and within localities, greater unrest both in urban and rural areas, and a revitalization of religious and folk rituals. Moving beyond the standard emphasis on the Vietnam War and Vietnamese politics and economy, this volume provides a historically grounded examination of the dynamics of contemporary society and state-society relations that will be valuable for scholars and students alike.