Ethnic policies and their effectiveness in practice are of great importance to the sustainable and comprehensive development of a country. As a multi-ethnic country, Vietnam has shown constant efforts to resolve ethnic issues in order to ensure equality and development opportunities for all ethnic groups. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, Hue University, Vol. 70, No 1 (2012) pp. 155-162 HO CHI MINH IDEOLOGY IN ETHNIC MINORITY POLICIES IN VIETNAM Nguyen Thanh Minh College of Education, Hue University Abstract. Ethnic policies and their effectiveness in practice are of great importance to the sustainable and comprehensive development of a country. As a multi-ethnic country, Vietnam has shown constant efforts to resolve ethnic issues in order to ensure equality and development opportunities for all ethnic groups. For the purpose of clarifying the theoretical basis of Vietnam ethnic policies, the article has synthesized and analyzed the existing literature related to Ho Chi Minh ideology to indicate the reflection, the inheritance and the scientific application of his ideology about ethnic minorities in current ethnic policies in Vietnam. The author holds a strong belief that with a thorough understanding of this theoretical guideline, more proper and effective policies will be formulated and implemented in ethnic minorities’ community. 1. Background Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country with 54 ethnic groups including 53 ethnic minorities mainly living in mountainous areas and borders which have strategic positions of political importance, national security and defense and ecological systems. Ethnic minorities, together with the whole country, have made great contribution to the cause of national construction and defense. In the past, they were the cradle of revolution base, and the impetus for offensive uprisings against the invaders. Nowadays, they play a crucial role of a strong shield maintaining national dependence and strategic drivers for a sustainable socio-economic growth in the cause of country’s renovation. However, besides great achievements we have obtained, ethnic minorities still lag behind and are suffering severe problems such as low economic levels, epidemic, unstable livelihood, illiteracy, etc. This reality creates an urgent need for more effective implementation
