Vietnam is planning to open its markets to more foreign-owned securities companies. The plan is part of a broader effort to privatize state-run companies and encourage more foreign investment. But a string of high-profile corruption cases and worries about rising prices, are a concern for many Vietnamese.

越南打算向更多外国证券公司开放市场。这项计划是进一步扩大国营企业私有化，鼓励外国投资的努力的一部分。但是对许多越南百姓来说，一连串引人注目的贪污案件以及对物价高涨的担心，才是他们的关切所在。

After a decade of rampant growth, Vietnam’s economic prospects have darkened in recent years. Debt-mired banks, badly managed and corrupt state-owned businesses and high inflation have finally taken their toll.

在经过十年的高速增长后，越南的经济前景在最近几年变得暗淡。身陷债务泥沼的银行，经营不善、贪污横行的国有企业和居高不下的通货膨胀，最后终于使越南经济付出了代价。

As smaller businesses struggle to get loans and more people lose their jobs, the country’s leaders have promised change. In July, the government announced it would restructure some of the most dominant state-owned groups, including PetroVietnam. However, the arrests of banker tycoon Nguyen Duc Kien last month for undisclosed financial crimes rocked investor confidence and the stock market plunged.

由于小企业获得贷款不易，加上有越来越多的人失去工作，越南领导人已经做出保证要进行变革。今年七月，越南政府宣布将重组一些最重要的国有企业，其中包括“越南石油公司”。越南银行业大亨阮德坚上个月由于未经透露的金融犯罪问题而遭到逮捕，这件事动摇了投资者信心，使股票市场大跌。

Early this month, in a move some observers say was an attempt to boost the stock market, officials announced a decree allowing foreign banks, securities companies and insurance firms operating in the country to buy up to 100 percent of the shares in an existing securities company. Economists have welcomed the move, saying it laid the ground for privatization by encouraging competition and a more level playing field.

这个月早些时候，在一项被有些观察家认为是试图促进股票市场的行动中，政府官员宣布了一项行政命令，准许在越南经营的外国银行、证券公司和保险公司购买现有的越南证券公司百分之百的股权。经济学家对此表示欢迎，认为此举可鼓励竞争并创造更公平的竞争环境，为私有化奠定基础。

Hanoi-based economist Vuong Quan Hoang, from the University of Brussels, says it is an important step for the future.

居住在河内的布鲁塞尔大学经济学家黄望全表示，这对未来而言是重要的一步。

“For foreign securities companies, I think this is going to be a good thing," said Hoang. "Even if the sentiment right now is not great, then we should not rule out the possibility that some time in the future, not far away, then probably the next wave of investment could happen.”

他说：“对外国证券公司来说，我认为这是一件好事。即使目前气氛还不那么好，但是我们不应排除在将来某个时候气氛变好的可能。或许不用太久，就会出现下一波投资浪潮。”

However, Hoang notes that the impact of the decree will likely not be felt for another 12 months, when the economy is more stable. Meanwhile, Hoang says there is a lot of work to be done and the worst is not yet over.

不过黄望全表示，这项行政命令的影响，要到12个月之后，也就是经济更加稳定后，才会显现出来。与此同时，黄望全说，目前还有许多工作要做，最坏的情况还没有过去。

“Right now there are issues with the real estate market, which is something big, and the interconnection between the real estate market, the securities market and the banking system," Hoang added. "What you saw over the past few weeks was only the tip of the iceberg.”

他说：“现在房地产市场存在一些问题。这可是大事，它牵涉到房地产市场、证券市场和金融系统间的相互关系。你过去几个星期所看到的，仅仅是冰山一角。”

There are already growing signs of public discontent about the state of the economy.

越来越多的迹象显示，公众对经济状况感到不满。

This week, a group of 20 students demonstrated outside the state-run oil and gas giants Petrolimex and PetroVietnam protesting petrol price hikes.

这个星期，有20名学生在越南国营石油天然气巨头“Petrolimex”和越南石油公司外，抗议油价上涨。

Economics student, Hoang, 23, was among the protesters.

现年23岁的黄姓经济系学生是抗议者之一。

Hoang says higher oil prices lead to higher inflation and poor people are already finding it difficult to make ends meet. Hoang adds that every price increase puts more pressure on the country’s poorest, people he feels are being ignored by the government. He says corruption is a big part of the problem.

他表示，高油价导致高通胀，本来就入不敷出的穷苦人家生活更加艰难了。他说，每一项物价上涨都给越南贫困人口带来更大压力，而且他认为，政府对这些穷人置之不理，不予关怀。他说，其中很大的原因在于贪污腐败。

Hoang also says people are expected to pay bribes to receive the most basic services, like hospital treatment. Students often need to bribe teachers so they will get favorable marks in their exams.

这位同学说，要想获得最基本的服务，比如看医生，人们就得行贿。学生们也要经常贿赂老师才能在考试中得到更好的成绩。

In a communist country, economics and politics are intrinsically linked. However, as the issue of reform becomes more urgent, some observers have become more wary about voicing their opinion on the economy for fear of getting in trouble with authorities.

然而，当改革议题变得更加紧迫的时候，一些观察家却在就经济问题发表评论时变得小心谨慎起来，因为他们害怕当局找他们的麻烦。

Speaking before the protest on Sunday, Nguyen Thi Hoi, 24, said she is not afraid to express her views.

在参加星期天的抗议前，现年24岁的阮志和同学表示，她不怕表达自己的观点。

Hoi said, as long as the protesters followed the law, there is no reason to be scared.

她说，只要抗议者遵守法律，就没有理由感到害怕。

Observers have welcomed the government’s efforts to reform, but economist Hoang says until there is a long-term road map people will continue to worry about the future. Meanwhile, the pressure continues to mount on members of the government to change the economic tide and give hope to those living on the margin.

观察家对越南政府的改革努力表示欢迎，但是经济学家黄望全表示，除非制定出一个长期的改革路线图，否则人们会继续对未来感到担忧。与此同时，政府官员身上的压力也在继续增加，因为他们要改变目前的经济潮流，给那些在生活边缘上挣扎的人们带来希望。