To the photographer who covered the war of the early 70's from all three sides, the Nationalist South, the Communist North and the Vietcong, Vietnam is a different country, Socialist by name only. Unbridled capitalism feeds a one-party regime. One of the aspects of this new Vietnam is the resurgence of Buddhism, which the regime does not hinder - to act as the "opium of the people". A people obsessed with business and religion is less likely to clamour for democracy. Monks and nuns, who for a time were a vocal opposition to the regime, have been tamed into submission.

Revered through the rituals...