Vietnamese Youth Groups

Figure 1.-- This photograph was taken in Vietnam at a camp of a youth group about 2010. As far as we know, the Communist Young Pioneers are the only youth group permitted in Vietnam. We do not notice, however, the normal red scasrves or any Communist iconography in the background. The boys are wearing bright blue suspender short pants and the girls blue suspender skirts. Both wear light blue shirts. The teenagers/adults wear darl long oants. It seems thet there is not a rule about footwear. Many children are wearing flip flops, but someone is barefoot. Maurizio

We have some limited information on Vietnamese youth groups. There was a small Boy Scout movement in French Indochina. This was the first Vietnamese youth movemnent. Scouting began in Indochina at French schools for French children. A Vietnamnse Scouting movement began a few years later (1930). The French also promoted the organization of sports groups and the Scouting movement had a strong athletic component. The Japanese after the fall of France (June 1940) moved into Indichina and gradually expanded their role, becoming the occupying power. The Japanese began using the French sports group to build a pro-Japanese youth movement. Scouting was disbaned during the Japanese occipation, but was reviced when the Drench returned safter the War. There were Buddhisdt and Castholic Scouts. We note Buddhist Boy Scouts protesting the South Vietnamese Government (1963). Apparently many Budhists thought that they would fare better under Communist rule. When the Commuists seized power (1965), they arresed Budhist monks and commited them to reducation camps. The Communists banned Scouting and founded the Young Pioneer Movement. Of course this meant that there was no longer any protests against the Government.

Boy Scouts

There was a small Boy Scout movement in French Indochina. This was the first Vietnamese youth movemnent. Scouting began in Indochina at French schools for French children. A Vietnamnse Scouting movement began a few years later (1930). World War II disrupted the growth of the Scouting movement. After France fell to the Germans (June 1940), the Japanese seized control of first north Indochina and then the south. The French not only lost control, but a Communist independence movement grew in strength. The Japanese disbanded the Scouts during the occupation (1940-45). The French revived Scouting after the War. There were Buddhisdt and Catholic Scouts. We note Buddhist Boy Scouts protesting the South Vietnamese Government (1963). Apparently many Budhists thought that they would fare better under Communist rule. When the Commuists seized power (1965), they arresed Budhist monks and commited them to reducation camps. Of course this meant that there was no longer any protests against the Government.

Sports Groups

The French also promoted the organization of sports groups and the Scouting movement had a strong athletic component. The Japanese after the fall of France (June 1940) moved into Indichina and gradually expanded their role, becoming the occupying power. The Japanese began using the French sports group to build a pro-Japanese youth movement. Japanese efforts to win the support of the younger generation was impeded by the existenceical youth movement organized by the Decoux Government before the Japanese occupation (1940-41). This movement attracted cionsiderable interest because of its appeal to both boys interested in sport as well as harboring social ambitions of the youthful generation. The Japanese expanded their control of Vietnam after Pearl Harbor (December 1941) and increased their propaganda effort in an effort to win over the local population. As in other areas of the Japanese Empire, they promised 'independence' as soon as conditions permited. The Vietnamese do not seem to have taken these offers seriously. Here the Japanese plundering of the economy and resultung privations experienced by the Vietnamese people were factors affecting popular feeling.

Young Pioneers

The Communists banned Scouting and founded the Young Pioneer Movement which was named the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation. We have very little information about the history of the Pioneer movement in Vietnam. It was apparently founded in secret by five members during the Japanese World War II occupation (1941). It is overseen by the Central Council of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha was the Secretary of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in 2011. At a leadership movenment, he explained that the 'organization and its members in every corner of the nation have been actively involved in emulation movements and made many contributions to the cause of national liberation and construction." The organization now has 15 million members in 24,000 young pioneer detachments all around the country. There are about 30,000 leaders working at schools, and residential blocs. An estimated 1.6 million children are conscripted to the organization every year. Pioneer officials use the term 'admitted', but the children and their parents have no real choice in the matter. About 1 million become Youth Union members. Most of the Pioneers (12 million pioneers and teenagers) are awarded the title of “Uncle Ho’s nephew or nieces”. Ms. Ha in her speeched added that in the future, the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation will make greater efforts to fulfill their assigned tasks to educate young people about morality, personality and revolutionary ideals as well as love for their homeland. What we do not know is how popular the Pioneer movement is with young people. As in other totalitarian countries, membership in the Pioneers and a good record is necessary to being acceopted for university training and any position of importance in government.

Sources

"Young pioneers deserve the Party and nation’s trust," VOV News, May 15, 2011.