ASEAN Beat | Society | Southeast Asia

Vietnam Is Rising, but Will It Leave the Rainbow Behind?

The country’s economy is growing rapidly, but its “take it slow” approach to LGBTQ rights risks creating a prosperous but intolerant society.

Participants unfurl a rainbow flag during a VietPride event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2024.

As Vietnam enters its “era of national rise,” a socioeconomic blueprint for transforming Vietnam into a “democratic, fair, and civilized society,” there are growing expectations that marginalized groups such as the country’s LGBTQ community will attract attention from the forward-looking government led by President and Communist Party chief To Lam. Many base their hopes for the legalization of same-sex marriages on economic logic, arguing that social inclusion can contribute to Vietnam’s overall national development agenda through the engagement of LGBTQ individuals in family-oriented markets.

The prospect of Vietnam recognizing same-sex marriages in the near future, however, remains slim.

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As Vietnam enters its “era of national rise,” a socioeconomic blueprint for transforming Vietnam into a “democratic, fair, and civilized society,” there are growing expectations that marginalized groups such as the country’s LGBTQ community will attract attention from the forward-looking government led by President and Communist Party chief To Lam. Many base their hopes for the legalization of same-sex marriages on economic logic, arguing that social inclusion can contribute to Vietnam’s overall national development agenda through the engagement of LGBTQ individuals in family-oriented markets.

The prospect of Vietnam recognizing same-sex marriages in the near future, however, remains slim.

To evaluate the growth of Vietnam’s LGBTQ community and the extent to which the government tolerates this group, Pride events offer a useful indicator. Since its inception in 2012,........

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