Memory ofthe War Period and Current Vi‖ age Social Relationships in Vietnarn:(Э bstacles to Realization of Kyοse′

Abstract

The memory of Vietnam War still lingers not only in the minds of villagers in the Mekong Delta,but also in their current social life During the、var,many farmers fought for either the current government or the former government of South Vietnam,、which has led to the division of the villagers into two factions What makes the matter more complicated is growing class differentiation since the launch of economic reform in the late 1980s While those who fought for the former regirne have access to foreign currency sent from overseas family mernbers and relatives who fled the country after the war, those 、without such access feel disadvantaged in the current social and economic conditions with severe competitions Thus,the memory(of the war is tied to changing economic situations the villalgers live in,creating complex village social relationships and political scene,、which hinder kyosei among some of the residents