"Our model of preference is probably California rather than Japan: if California were to stand on her own, she would have the eighth strongest economy in the world. California is also a world power in terms of agricultural production, high tech and university level education. She is also hard core about environmental protection, water usage and waste disposal. Vietnam would have all of California's strengths, plus the manufacturing base. In addition, Vietnam is strategically located as the bridge between East Asia and SEA and if we take into consideration the "Look East" policy of manty Middle Eastern states and South Asia, Vietnam stands smacks in the middle between these Middle Eastern states and North America.

Japan would not benefit from having another Japan as much from having a fully capable Vietnamese trade partner, who knows how to extract every advantage from its geopgraphical position."

Blacklight

Your comparison is quite fascinating. California has a large population of Vietnamese Americans (500,000 strong).

Vietnam will need 100-200 years before it is comparable to the current Japan.

Exaggerating a bit?

Is this thread going to be locked again?

Japan had been a colonial power ... like French , British , Spanish , Dutch , etc .
Today with its economic might , Japan continues to build up its power & influence .
The World Do Speak Japanese , i. e. Aiwa , Akai , Asahi , Bandai , Bridgestone , Canon , Casio , Citizen , Daihatsu , Denon , Denso , Epson , Ekomo mai , Fuji , Fujitsu , Geo , Goyo , Hitachi , Honda , Isuzu , Juki, Kawasaki , Kyocera, Konica , Lit’ Saigon , Matsu$hita , MitsuBU$Hi ,
, etc .

My best guess is that it's going to take a lot less time than that, at the rate that we are going. Whether we really want to be comparable to Japan is an interesting question - Why should we limit ourselves to catch up with anyone when we could blow right past them? There was a time a couple of years ago when Bangla Desh thought of us as an economic archrival - that time is past. We are already doing some things better than the Japanese, for example in agriculture. Regardless of what happens 100-200 years from now, we will always regard the Japanese as a valued trade partner.