Next up: Gap Inc.

And the corporations keep on coming in.

A couple of weeks ago, VTP posted news about foreign and multinational companies trying to carve a spot for themselves in Vietnam. There was Starbucks hoping to wedge its way into the coffee consumption market; Nestle expanding its factories; and KFC hoping to go from fast fried chicken joint to classy poulet  spot. The newest addition in this globalization rush to Vietnam? Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. recently announced that it would be opening up two Gap shops in Saigon in October and additional stores in 2012. A Banana Republic shop, also operated by Gap Inc., will soon follow. Gap Inc. manufactures much of its products in Vietnam, so now that Gap Inc. will begin selling its products to the local market, could we see change to the wages of Gap Inc. workers in Vietnam?

Capitalistic Perks to Communism? What now?

On a different note, with consumption becoming the new norm in Vietnam, it seems like the government is getting a little worried that Vietnamese youngsters might forget that Vietnam is still a communist state. To keep youth in tow, Ben Bland of the Financial Times writes that Vinaphone, a state-owned mobile phone operator, is offering free minutes and discounted downloads to patriotic ringtones to all those who are registered with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Organization. Calls made between communist cadres also get a fifty percent discount.

Ironic that they’re using an economic  incentive–a very capitalistic economic incentive–to keep the communist spirit afloat among consumption-minded youngsters.