Why are most Vietnamese people still poor even though Vietnam's economy is already open for business for foreigners and to the world since the 1980's?

Which makes it hilarious.

“Why are most Filipino people still poor even though the Philippines’ economy is already open for business for foreigners and to the world since at least the 1940s?”

Many Filipinos love to denigrate Vietnam to sooth their hurt ego and make themselves feel superior, don’t they? Especially after their country, boasted as “once the second richest country in Asia” has already been overtaken by a war-torn and heavily embargoed country just 3 decades ago.

The Philippines has been overtaken by once-wartorn Vietnam since 2018, in terms of GDP per capita.

If we measure by PPP per capita, the overtake happened even earlier, in 2012.

Of the 6 major ASEAN economies (Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia), the Philippines is now the poorest, as measured by both GDP per capita and PPP per capita. And of course, the Philippines is now a poorer country than Vietnam. This is despite the fact that the Philippines had a head start of several decades over Vietnam, was not utterly ravaged by several destructive wars during the past century, and had no major sanctions slapped against it by world powers during said period.

Instead of thinking of ways to drag Vietnam down to your level, try something else to uplift your country. Because Vietnam is not going down anytime soon. Honestly speaking, I just hope most Filipinos to be like this questioner. A country full of such citizens will not make for a fast developing one. I sure do not want my country Vietnam to have a better able economic competitor next door either. Seeing them wallow idly in their happy-go-lucky make-believe and wistful thinking is probably the most beautiful sight to behold for this neighboring country. Cheers!