Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-gr6zb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-14T10:31:43.658Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Decoding Vietnam's Foreign Policy After the Thirteenth National Party Congress: Process, Continuity, and Adjustment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2022

Dang Cam Tu Open the ORCID record for Dang Cam Tu [Opens in a new window]  and
Nguyen Vu Tung
Dang Cam Tu*
Affiliation:
Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
Nguyen Vu Tung
Affiliation:
Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
*
*Corresponding author. Email: dangcamtu.dav@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

As the third decade of the twenty-first century begins, Vietnam embarks on a more advanced phase of national development and international integration, with a greater emphasis on foreign policy as part of the country's overall national defence and development strategy. This informs greater expectations about shifts in Vietnam's foreign policy perception and discourse in pursuit of national interests and the regime's legitimacy amidst major domestic and international developments. This article analyses the making, in terms of processes and actors, and the evolution, in terms of themes and directions, of Vietnam's foreign policy under the Thirteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which was held in early 2021. The article argues that while embedding continuity with what the country has been pursuing since its renovation process (known as Doi Moi) started in the mid-1980s, Vietnam's foreign policy under the Thirteenth Party Congress is crafted on a broader base of domestic consensus and features new dimensions, implying stronger domestic support for Hanoi's conduct of foreign affairs and a Vietnamese nation brand with greater visibility and contribution in the regional and global arenas in the coming years.

Keywords

Vietnamadjustmentconsensuscontinuityforeign policynational interest
Type
Original Article
Information
TRaNS: Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia , Volume 11 , Issue 1 , May 2023 , pp. 89 - 101
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Institute of East Asian Studies, Sogang University

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

1

The views expressed are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions they work for.

References

Bui, Thanh Son. 2021. “Vietnamese foreign affairs after the 12th party congress and orientations in the new period.” Tap chi Cong san(Communist Review) 959: 8–15.Google Scholar
Bui, Thanh Son, ed. 2015. Hoi nhap quoc te va nhung van de dat ra doi voi Viet Nam (International Integration and the Issues for Vietnam). Hanoi: Nha xuat ban Chinh tri quoc gia - Su that (National Politics - Truth Publishing House).Google Scholar
Chapman, N. 2021. “Challenges into opportunities: The blossoming of Vietnam's multidirectional foreign policy at the 13th CPV congress.” Russian Journal of Vietnamese Studies 5(3): 6–26. Available at: https://vietnamjournal.ru/2618-9453/article/view/87076 (accessed 14 February 2022).Google Scholar
Chen, Sharon, and Ratnam, Gopal. 2013. “Vietnam rises as middle power at defense summit: Southeast Asia,” Bloomberg, 28 August.Google Scholar
Chheang, Vannarith, and Nguyen, Huu Tuc. 2021. “Constant and continuous: Vietnam's foreign policy after the 13th Party Congress,” Fulcrum, 1 March.Google Scholar
Communist Party of Vietnam. 2016. Van kien Dai hoi Dang toan quoc lan thu XII (Documents of the 12th National Party Congress). Hanoi: Van phong Trung uong Dang (Office of the Central Party Committee).Google Scholar
Communist Party of Vietnam. 2021. Documents of the 13th National Congress. Hanoi: National Politics Truth Publishing House.Google Scholar
Dang, Cam Tu. 2016. “Vietnam's foreign policy after the 12th party congress: An analysis of the emphases and priorities.” Foreign Policy Research Center Journal 3: 24–27.Google Scholar
Dang, Nhat. 2020. “Cuoc doi dau My - Trung se lam thay doi quan he quoc te trong nam 2021” (U.S.-China confrontation will change international relations in 2021), Tuoi Tre Online, 31 December. Available at: http://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-doi-dau-my-trung-se-lam-thay-doi-quan-he-quoc-te-trong-nam-2021–20201230220757002.htm (accessed 31 July 2021).Google Scholar
Do, Le Chi. 2020. Viet Nam truoc tac dong cua cau truc an ninh tai khu vuc chau A - Thai Binh Duong (Vietnam Under the Impacts of Regional Security Architecture in the Asia-Pacific). Hanoi: Nha xuat ban Chinh tri Quoc gia Su that (National Politics Truth Publishing House).Google Scholar
Do, Thuy T. 2022. “Vietnam's emergence as a middle power in Asia: Unfolding the power - knowledge nexus.” Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs 41(2): 1–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Do, Van Soan. 2017. “Bao ve To quoc tu som, tu xa - diem moi trong Van kien Dai hoi lan thu XII cua Dang” (Protecting the fatherland in advance and from afar - a new point in the documents of the 12th party national congress), Hai quan Viet Nam Dien tu (Vietnam Navy Online), 1 January. Available at: http://baohaiquanvietnam.vn/tin-tuc/bao-ve-to-quoc-tu-som-tu-xa-diem-moi-trong-van-kien-dai-hoi-lan-thu-xii-cua-dang (accessed 28 August 2021).Google Scholar
Erskine, Andrew. 2022. “The middle power dynamic in the Indo-Pacific: Unpacking how Vietnam and Indonesia can shape regional security and economic issues,” Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, 8 February. Available at: https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/JIPA/Display/Article/2927137/the-middle-power-dynamic-in-the-indo-pacific-unpacking-how-vietnam-and-indonesi/ (accessed 19 March 2022).Google Scholar
Grossman, Derek, and Sharman, Christopher. 2019. “How to read Vietnam's latest defense white paper: A message to great powers,” War on The Rocks, 31 December. Available at: https://warontherocks.com/2019/12/how-to-read-vietnams-latest-defense-white-paper-a-message-to-great-powers (accessed 10 September 2021).Google Scholar
Kratiuk, Barbara. 2014. “Vietnam as a middle power in Southeast Asia.” Paper presented at the Second International Conference on Asian Studies, Sri Lanka. 14–15 July.Google Scholar
Le, Dinh Tinh. 2021. “A multi-level approach to Vietnam foreign policy: From security preocupation to middle power role.” Strategic Analysis 45(4): 321–335.Google Scholar
Le, Dinh Tinh, and Lai, Anh Tu. 2021. “The evolution of Vietnamese foreign policy after the 13th party congress,” The Diplomat, 10 March.Google Scholar
Le, Hai Binh, ed. 2020. Tap hop luc luong trong the ky XXI: Xu huong, tac dong va doi sach cua Viet Nam (Force Alignment in the XXI Century: Trends, Impacts and Vietnam's Responses). Hanoi: Nha xuat ban Chinh tri Quoc gia Su that (National Politics Truth Publishing House).Google Scholar
Le, Hoai Trung. 2019. “Doi ngoai da phuong gop phan day manh hoi nhap quoc te, tang cuong suc manh tong hop cua dat nuoc” (Multilateral diplomacy contributed to promoting international integration and enhancing national comprehensive power), Tuyen giao, 8 February. Available at: http://tuyengiao.vn/dien-dan/van-de-quan-tam/doi-ngoai-da-phuong-gop-phan-day-manh-hoi-nhap-quoc-te-tang-cuong-suc-manh-tong-hop-cua-dat-nuoc-118777 (accessed 20 September 2021).Google Scholar
Le, Hong Hiep, and Tsvetov, Anton, eds. 2018. Vietnam's Foreign Policy under Doi Moi. Singapore: ISEAS (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies), Yusof Ishak Institute Publishing.Google Scholar
Le, Hung Son. 2021. “Kien quyet, kien tri: Dieu kien can va du thuc hien muc tieu bao ve To quoc” (Resoluteness, persistence: The necessary and sufficient conditions to realise the goal of defending the fatherland), Quan doi Nhan dan (People's Army), 7 May.Google Scholar
National Academy of Public Administration. 2021. The Central Theoretical Council: the 2016–2021 Term Review Conference, 2 July. Available at: https://www1.napa.vn/en/the-central-theoretical-council-the-2016-2021-term-review-conference.napa (accessed 31 March 2022).Google Scholar
Ngoc, Lan. 2021. “EU voi vai tro can bang o An Do Duong - Thai Binh Duong” (EU as a balancer in the Indo-Pacific), Cong an Nhan dan (Journal of People's Public Security), 13 July.Google Scholar
Nguyen, Manh Hung. 2016. “New context of Vietnam's national security challenges.” Trends in Southeast Asia 17. Singapore: ISEAS (Institute of Southeast Asian Studies)-Yusof Ishak Institute Publishing.Google Scholar
Nguyen, Ngoc Hoi. 2021. “Quan diem “chu dong ngan ngua cac nguy co chien tranh xung dot tu som, tu xa” tai Dai hoi XIII cua Dang” (The perception of “proactively preventing risks of war and conflict in advance, from afar” at the 13th party congress), Tap chi Quoc phong Toan dan (Journal of People's National Defence), 26 May. Available at: http:// http://m.tapchiqptd.vn/vi/quan-triet-thuc-hien-nghi-quyet/quan-diem-chu-dong-ngan-ngua-cac-nguy-co-chien-tranh-xung-dot-tu-som-tu-xa-tai-dai-hoi-xiii-cua-dang-17139.html (accessed 28 August 2021).Google Scholar
Nguyen, Phu Trong. 2018. “Toan van phat bieu cua Tong Bi thu Nguyen Phu Trong tai Hoi nghi Ngoai giao 30” (Speech by Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong at the 30th Diplomatic Conference), The gioi & Vietnam (World & Vietnam), 13 August.Google Scholar
Nguyen, The Phuong. 2019. “Vietnam's 2019 Defense White Paper: Preparing for a fragile future,” Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, Amti Update, 17 December. Available at: https://amti.csis.org/vietnams-2019-defense-white-paper-preparing-for-a-fragile-future (accessed 26 August 2021).Google Scholar
Nhan dan Online (The People's Daily Online). 2016. “Central theoretical council for 2016-–021 debuts,” 7 September. Available at: https://en.nhandan.vn/politics/domestic/item/4603402-central-theoretical-council-for-2016-2021-debuts.html (accessed 15 January 2022).Google Scholar
Nhan dan Online (The People's Daily Online). 2021a. “Central theoretical council celebrates 25th founding anniversary,” 30 October. Available at: https://en.nhandan.vn/politics/domestic/item/10695802-central-theoretical-council-celebrates-25th-founding-anniversary.html (accessed 15 January 2022).Google Scholar
Nhan Dan Online (The People's Daily Online). 2021b. “Building and developing modern Vietnamese foreign relations and a diplomatic service richly imbued with the national identity.” Speech by Party General Secretary at National Foreign Relations Conference, 31 December. Available at: https://en.nhandan.vn/politics/domestic/item/11001302-building-and-developing-modern-vietnamese-foreign-relations-and-a-diplomatic-service-richly-imbued-with-the-national-identity.html (accessed 2 January 2022).Google Scholar
Palmujoki, Eero. 1999. “Ideological and foreign policy: Vietnam's Marxist-Leninist doctrine and global change, 1986–1996.” In Vietnamese Foreign Policy in Transition, edited by Thayer, Carlyle A., and Amer, Ramses, 25–43. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asia Studies.Google Scholar
Pham, Binh. 2021. “Chieu huong quan he My - Trung Quoc trong nhiem ky cua Tong thong Joe Biden” (The prospect of U.S.-China relations under Joe Biden administration), Tap chi Quoc phong toan dan (Journal of People's National Defence), 9 July. Available at: http://tapchiqptd.vn/vi/quoc-phong-quan-su-nuoc-ngoai/chieu-huong-quan-he-my-trung-quoc-trong-nhiem-ky-cua-tong-thong-joe-biden/17331.html (accessed 10 September 2021).Google Scholar
Pham, Binh Minh. 2021. “Promoting the role of Vietnamese diplomacy in the national construction and defense cause,” Tap chi Cong san (Communist Review), 7 August. Available at: https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/english/international/detail/-/asset_publisher/ZeaSwtFJtMgN/content/promoting-the-role-of-vietnamese-diplomacy-in-the-national-construction-and-defense-cause (accessed 2 December 2021).Google Scholar
Phan, Mich. 2020. “Tam the moi cua ngoai giao da phuong Viet Nam” (The new posture of Vietnam's multilateral diplomacy), The gioi & Vietnam (World & Vietnam), 14 June.Google Scholar
Rinaudo, Carlotta. 2021. “Vietnam: A power on the rise?” Strife, 13 April. Available at: https://www.strifeblog.org/tag/vietnam (accessed 15 September 2021).Google Scholar
Thai, Van Long. 2020. “Dac diem moi cua canh tranh chien luoc My - Trung Quoc va doi sach cua Viet Nam” (New characteristics of U.S.-China strategic competition). Tap chi Cong san (Communist Review), 9 November. Available at: https://www.tapchicongsan.org.vn/web/guest/the-gioi-van-de-su-kien/-/2018/820419/dac-diem-moi-cua-canh-tranh-chien-luoc-my---trung-quoc-va-doi-sach-cua-viet-nam.aspx (accessed 10 September 2021).Google Scholar
Thayer, Carlyle. 2021. “Vietnam's 13th national party congress: Exceptional and unprecedented,” Australian Outlook, 6 February, posted by Australian Institute of International Affairs.Google Scholar
Thayer, Carlyle A. 1994. “Sino-Vietnamese relations: The interplay of ideology and national interest.” Asian Survey 34(6): 513–528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
The gioi & Vietnam (World & Vietnam). 2021. “Bo truong Ngoai giao Bui Thanh Son: Trien khai manh me, quyet liet va dong bo cong tac doi ngoai da phuong trong tinh hinh moi” (Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son: Implementing vigorously, firmly and coordinatedly multilateral diplomacy in the new context), 9 July. Available at: https://baoquocte.vn/bo-truong-ngoai-giao-bui-thanh-son-trien-khai-manh-me-quyet-liet-va-dong-bo-cong-tac-doi-ngoai-da-phuong-trong-tinh-hinh-moi-150903.html (accessed 8 September 2021).Google Scholar
Tung, Nguyen Vu. 2010. “Vietnam's security challenges: Hanoi's new approach to national security and implications to defense and foreign policies,” Asia Pacific Countries' Security Outlook and Its Implications for Defense Sector. Japan: National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS).Google Scholar
Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence. 2019. 2019 Vietnam National Defence. Hanoi: National Political Publishing House.Google Scholar
Vietnam News Agency (VNA). 2019. “Sub-committee on 13th National Party Congress documents meets,” 7 January. Available at: http://en.vietnamplus.vn (accessed 28 August 2021).Google Scholar
Vu, Duong Huan. 2002. Ngoai giao Viet Nam Hien dai vi Su nghiep Doi Moi 1975–2002 (Vietnam's modern diplomacy for the course of Doi Moi 1975–2002). Hanoi: Hanoi University Press.Google Scholar
Vu, Trong-Hung, Jha, Pankaj K., Doan, Truong-Thu, and Quach, Thi-Hue, eds. 2020. Vietnam: A New Middle Power in Asia. India: Shipra Publications.Google Scholar
Vu, Van Hien. 2021. “Xu huong phat trien cua thoi dai - Viet Nam kien dinh con duong da chon” (The development trends of the times - Vietnam is persistent on the chosen path). Tap chi Quoc phong Toan dan (Journal of People's National Defence), 21 September.Google Scholar