In 1960, we cut off ties with the Soviet Union. In 1964, we exploded an atomic bomb. In 1967, within 32 months and before France, we exploded a hydrogen bomb. In 1971, we launched a nuclear submarine. In 1976, we developed hybrid rice.
After WW2, we were far poorer than Vietnam and India. Why did Vietnam not explode an atomic bomb, or make a hydrogen bomb, or launch a nuclear submarine, or invent hybrid rice?
Where's Vietnam's heavy industry? China controls 40% of the world's chemical fibers production, 50% of steel and cement production, produces the most cars in the world, produces the most solar panels in the world... I can go on but you get the picture. You don't have heavy industry. You're barely hanging on to textiles, which China has a grip over you because you are forced to import our textile machinery and fibers.