The press is no longer just a monolithic propaganda machine, and scores of lively newspapers have sprung up.
Artists have newfound leeway to choose their topics and display their work abroad.
They are corrupt, ignorant, incompetent leaders. She did not go to prison. All this might not seem reflective of life in a repressive society, but Vietnam's policy on human rights remains the subject of ongoing controversy. Instead they are subjected to less overt forms of harassment and intimidation, including surveillance and restriction of their freedom of movement or their ability to work. But the threat of imprisonment remains real for those who publicly challenge the party's authority.