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In independent then re-unified Vietnam, Party cadres have replaced the colonial managerial staff. Moves towards a market economy, in which local managers have played a key-role, have caused fondamental changes in the number, status, and standard of living of public sector employees. While transition is coming to an end on the labour market, for which the problems come increasingly close to those other low income countries face, it is far from over in the civil service. Vietnamese civil servants are under the influence of contradictory interests. Their interests as individuals, as members of a professional body, as representatives of the State, do not lack ambiguity, since the State seems to have increasing difficulty in reflecting the aspirations of the population which is now permitted freedom of expressions by dot moi.