Books ruled too hot to read HANOI - Vietnam's authorities have reportedly banned three books deemed to be morally subversive, despite a growing tolerance of new ideas. Yesterday's People's Police newspaper said the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Culture seized an undisclosed number of two local novels and translations of an "offensive" French publication which explores unconventional methods of sexual gratification. According to the report, the novels encourage a "depraved lifestyle and an ideology of violence, social evils and superstition". "What is particularly dangerous is that they deny the success of [Vietnam's] communist revolution, slander and offend authority, and ridicule traditional morality," the newspaper said. "In short, they should not even be considered as books, let alone works of literature." The third of the banned publications is a Vietnamese language edition of a text by French doctor Laurent Chavernac, which is published under a title which translates loosely to The Discovery of Self Orgasm. "This book is a topsy-turvy compilation of European and American sexual practices which are to a large extent only suitable for foreigners," the article said. "It creates unhealthy norms for sexual relationships and even encourages people to seek sexual pleasure with animals . . . triggering the curiosity of youth and contaminating their purity of spirit." Officials declined to comment further on the issue, but the books have been on sale for some time and the ban's publication may backfire on efforts to curtail distribution. People's Police is among Vietnam's most popular newspapers - avidly consumed for its racy yarns of life's sordid side - and duplication of difficult to obtain literature is a lucrative sideline for photocopy shops, which can reproduce books within an hour for as little as 20,000 dong (HK$11). Attempts to restrict Internet access to potentially damaging material have also proved unsuccessful. Industry insiders claim the firewall software used by Vietnam is a corporate package designed to prevent employees from abusing Internet access, but does not have the capacity to block Web sites with pornographic or even politically seditious material. By Huw Watkin - South China Morning Post - April 11, 2000.