HANOI: At a secret gig in a Hanoi house, a clutch of democracy activists listen intently to the words of a bluesy ballad, a small act of defiance by critics of Vietnam’s communist regime who hope a visit by Barack Obama will open rather than cramp their space to operate.

“Hey you, hey my sister,” ends the mournful lament by pop star turned activist Mai Khoi, “Are we free, are we really free?”

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