Vietnam is departing from its reticence and caution to a pragmatic foreign policy focused on balancing global and regional powers. This strategic evolution is being driven by its national priorities and the dynamic regional security situation.        

At the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President To Lam, while delivering the keynote address on 29 May 2026, highlighted three foundational crises—a crisis in the international order, a crisis of the development model, and a crisis of strategic trust. The specific risks he mentioned included technology and defence industry norms, AI governance, undersea cable and critical infrastructure resilience, information environment cooperation, human security and societal resilience, and preventive diplomacy capacity.

While warning against uncontrolled competition, To Lam urged nations to work together to achieve peace, trust and development.[1] Emphasis on “constructivism” during his remarks also reflects a shift in mindset from passively monitoring the actions of major powers to proactive engagement by Vietnam and other regional countries towards building inclusive security structures.[2]

This was the first time that the Vietnamese party chief participated in Asia’s premier security forum—a platform traditionally dominated by defence ministers and officials. It also indicates a shift in Vietnam’s diplomatic and strategic evolution.[3] To Lam retained his position as the Secretary General of the CPV during the 14th National Party Congress in January 2026, and later assumed the state presidency in April.

The consolidation of power in Vietnam’s top leadership marks a major departure from the past, which centred on collective leadership.[4] This shift could also enable faster decision-making and a more flexible posture for a nation once seen as diplomatically reticent and cautious, given its collective leadership.[5] As Vietnam enters a new developmental phase, its new leadership faces challenges amidst a perilous international environment that could undermine its national goals. The brief analyses Hanoi’s emerging priorities through which it seeks to shape the broader strategic discourse.

Shifts in Vietnam’s Diplomatic Approach     

‘Bamboo diplomacy’ reflects Vietnam’s longstanding foreign policy approach, rooted in its strategic doctrine emphasising flexibility, resilience and balance. This doctrine, which centres on pragmatism, ensures strategic autonomy, based on ‘Four Nos’—‘No military alliances’; ‘No foreign bases’; ‘No siding with one power against another’; and ‘No use or threat of force’. Over the past decade, Vietnam has steadily expanded its diplomatic engagement, strengthened strategic partnerships with multiple actors, and enhanced its visibility within multilateral institutions. As of 2025, Vietnam has signed strategic partnerships with over 30 nations, including 12 comprehensive strategic partnerships.[6]

The second decade of the 21st century continues to be shaped by new opportunities for deeper international cooperation. However, it also faces numerous new challenges stemming from intensifying great power competition, a global economic crisis and regional instability. Alongside these, the rapid advancement of science and technology has generated new momentum for growth and digital transformation.

In this context, more than two decades of implementing the Doi Moi reforms, which had enhanced Vietnam’s geopolitical and geostrategic stature, have necessitated significant shifts in its foreign policy thinking and strategies. The 11th Party Congress of the CPV held in January 2011 introduced significant changes in Vietnam’s foreign policy approach; moving from ‘Vietnam as a friend and reliable partner to countries, striving for peace, stability, and development’ to ‘Vietnam as a friend, reliable partner, and active, responsible member of the international community’.[7]

By the 12th Party Congress held in January 2016, the CPV further specified that the objective of Vietnam’s foreign policy activities was to ‘safeguard the supreme interests of the nation and its people, based on the fundamental principles of international law, equality, and mutual benefit’. The foreign policy shifts introduced at the 11th Party Congress, which focused on deepening Vietnam’s international relations, achieving comprehensive international integration, and advancing multilateral diplomacy, were further refined at the 12th, 13th and 14th Party Congresses.[8] The 13th Party Congress, held in January 2021, prioritised multilateral diplomacy to establish a peaceful and stable international environment, which was much needed in an era of great power competition. To further........

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