<P> In an early modern history book, Việt Nam Sử Lược, one could see clearly that throughout the history, Vietnam's economic activities had been rarely mentioned and clearly poorly documented . However, it did mention that gold had been used as money, with unit being a tael . Each tael could be exchanged for 70 quan--the formal coin minted and circulated by the Trần Dynasty in the first half of the 13th century (from 1225--1253). The currency was then used to pay personal tax, one quan per head each year . Nonetheless, the most important tax should arguably come from farming production, mostly levied paddy rice fields, and was actually paid in rice . There existed many other type of taxes, such as for production of salt, fish, vegetable, and many other consumers goods alike . Being engaged in series of border wars with its southern neighbor, Champa, Trần Dynasty at times showed its military strength, supported by economic wealth, and gradually implemented a southward expansion . Given the economic prosperity in some substantial periods under the reign of Trần, substantial cultural progress also emerged . Nôm scripts were invented and used in the first place in the 13th century under Trần Nhân Tông (1258--1308). The first history work which was ever written in Vietnam was finished in 1272, Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu by the historian Lê Văn Hưu . In this period, economic development served as the main propeller for overall development of the society, as well as the country's territorial expansion . </P> <P> When the Hồ Dynasty (1400--1407) usurped the throne from the Trần, Hồ Quý Ly also implemented some economic changes, including unifying the weight and volume measure system, improving river - transporting means, establishing administrative system for collecting taxes and fees from merchants, building foodstuff reserve to intervene when market rice prices fluctuating too much, etc . Like previous kings of Trần, he perhaps pursued an improved government budget and arms force . Historians cited reasons of his failures in these reforms as being implemented in very short time and conflict of interests with aristocrats (owners of wealth), merchants, hence urban artisans . </P> <P> It is noteworthy that a majority of collected taxes and fees by the feudalist central governments in Vietnam's history were used for unproductive reasons, mostly warfare preparation (viz . weapons, military foodstuff reserves), kings' residential palaces, and aristocratic class luxury goods (to their standards). Rarely useful spending was documented for instance dyke building to prevent cropland flood, frequently occurring in the Red River Delta causing famine and starvation of farmers . Taxes were heavy financial burden that ordinary people had to accept . In narrative by historians, tax reduction is always the best thing a king could do to his people, and that is only done a few years after his coronation, then short - lived . Another important economic policy of several good kings is to grant land (including fertile cropland) to the poor people . One typical example is the case of Lê Thái Tổ (1385 - 1433), the first king of the Second Lê Dynasty crowned in 1428, who redistributed land to not only his subordinates, serving him during the 10 - year war with the Ming Dynasty's troops . Supplying foods and foodstuffs to the army is clearly also a very challenging task . Lê Thái Tổ, when engaged in fighting against the Ming's troops, had an army of 250,000 . After his victory, the Lê Dynasty still kept 100,000 with the army . Taxpayers, mostly proletarians, were greatly exploited by aristocrats and kings through various kinds of tax and fees to maintain military forces for the powerful feudalist bloodlines . </P> <P> The third king of the Second Lê reigns, viz . Lê Thánh Tông (1449--1497), proved himself one of the most talented feudalist leaders in the entire history of Vietnam . First, he did not forget to reassure Viet farmers about his economic policies that favored agricultural production . He implemented a set of measures which had been devised to encourage farmers to actively improve both farming techniques and work hours, and to exploit unused lands for cultivation, expanding farm lands further to jungles in the rural areas of his kingdom . But his policies also reflected an adequate concern of and a forward - looking view towards developing a better and thriving commercial urban city Thăng Long (viz . the capital city in his time, and today's Hanoi). He paid substantial attentions and made incessant efforts to encourage trade activities, to significantly improve road and river transportation, to establish many new markets as well as new ports along major rivers and at important coastal areas . We could by no means deny the causal nexus between the boom of trade activities and domestic manufacturing capacity, which in our very modern theories would induce each other, especially when growth is on upswing . Clearly his situation, positive effects brought about by Lê Thánh Tông's economic policies were further bolstered with help of a reasonably long period of peace . </P>

Mention the factors which prevented economic growth in vietnam