Vietnam foreign policy

The country’s economic response to the tariffs will be guided by its multilateral and diversified foreign policy approach.

The upgrade came three days after Vietnam similarly elevated Indonesia to the highest tier in its diplomatic hierarchy.

The past three years have seen a significant expansion in Vietnam's relations with its major regional and global partners.

Over the past three years, the Vietnamese government has established Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with nine nations.

New Zealand has become the 10th nation, and the seventh in the past three years, to be promoted to the top tier of Vietnam's diplomatic hierarchy.

Despite its growing prosperity and ambition, the country still has to tread a careful line between larger regional and global powers.

Malaysia has become the ninth nation, and the first in ASEAN, to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam.

The agreement, Vietnam's first free trade deal with a Middle Eastern nation, comes after a busy couple of years in the country's foreign relations.

The country's omnidirectional foreign policy doctrine cushions it from changes in the domestic affairs of key partner states.

The Russia-Ukraine war has rearranged the configuration of Vietnam’s web of partnerships but has not drastically changed its foreign policy approach. 

Vietnam's evolving strategic narrative, as articulated by To Lam, reflects a nation at the crossroads of global affairs.

France has become the eighth nation, and the fifth in the past two years, to rise to the top of Hanoi's diplomatic hierarchy.

Hanoi's interpretation of its painful history with the U.S. and China reflects its desire to maintain peaceful relations with the two powers.

Indonesia would become the eighth nation, and the first in ASEAN, to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with Hanoi.

The two neighbors share deep historical, political, and geographic affinities, but these risk being weakened by the shifting regional balance of power.

The late party chief "left behind a party-state that governs mostly by control and coercion rather than consensus and legitimacy."

Like his late predecessor, To Lam will begin his tenure as general secretary of the CPV by traveling north to Beijing.

While his accession marks the beginning of a new era in Vietnamese politics, To Lam is unlikely to enact major changes to the country's domestic or foreign policy.

Thai commentators fear that fast-growing Vietnam could steal their nation's economic crown, but in most respects bilateral relations are in a better state than ever before.

The late party chief adroitly balanced Vietnam's relationships with the major powers, while expanding its role on the international stage.

Trong had dominated Vietnamese politics since 2011. Now attention turns to his successor, former security minister To Lam.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the State Department's second-in-command of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, has arrived in Hanoi for a two-day visit.

The Russian leader is just the latest major power leader to come to Hanoi bearing gifts and promises.

The Russian leader will visit the country on June 19-20, just days after the conclusion of an international peace conference on Ukraine.