This is only serious and believable if it continues. More likely, supporters will be murdered.
That is the way of commies.
Is Vietnam any more authoritarian than Singapore?
Interesting Wikipedia article on Vietnam:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam
They share your view that it remains a Communist country which includes government control of major industries, severe censorship of citizens and the media.
Over time the economy has been improving and tourism has been thriving—but it remains to be seen if that will have any significant impact on the form of government.