ARTICLES

5 Jun 2025

Vietnam’s Public Infrastructure Drive: More Haste, Less Speed?

Le Hong Hiep

Vietnam has an ambitious plan for the building of infrastructure. But it needs to be mindful of significant risks such as corruption and subpar construction quality.

3 Jun 2025

Vietnam’s Trump Card: Navigating Growth, Politics, and US Relations

Hoang Thi Ha|Dien Nguyen An Luong

Vietnam’s fast-tracking of a Trump-branded project is a high-stake diplomatic gambit to curry favour with the US president to ameliorate the extent of US tariffs. But the Trump project should also be viewed in the context of Hanoi’s relentless drive to do away with red tape and pro-business strategy.

U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam

27 May 2025

The Strategic Calculations Behind To Lam’s Eurasian Tour

Nguyen Khac Giang

Vietnamese leader To Lam's recent tour of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan was aimed at diversifying Hanoi’s strategic partnerships and securing Moscow’s backing for its military needs and South China Sea claims.

Vietnam Vietnam-Russia relations

23 May 2025

Medical Care: Vietnam’s Underleveraged ‘Soft Power’ in Cambodia

Sovinda Po|Kuch Sonika Bun

Although Cambodians are still wary of the Vietnamese, they have faith in Vietnam’s medical services — an asset that the government has not yet fully taken advantage of.

Cambodia Cambodia-Vietnam Relations Health Vietnam

22 May 2025

Vietnam’s Response to Controversial Mekong Projects in China, Laos, and Cambodia

Phan Xuan Dung

Vietnam is anxious about the geostrategic implications of upstream Mekong projects in China, Laos, and Cambodia. It faces the dilemma of protecting its vital interests in the Mekong while maintaining stable and cooperative relations with its three neighbours.

Cambodia China Laos Mekong River Vietnam

16 May 2025

Economic Anxiety, Nationalist Pride: How Vietnam Navigates the Trump Storm

Dien Nguyen An Luong

Hanoi is orchestrating a media campaign to project resilience amid Trump’s tariffs and other setbacks in US–Vietnam ties while trying to prevent simmering anti-American sentiments from hurting those ties.

Tariffs U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

29 Apr 2025

How To Lam Can Unleash Vietnam’s Private Sector

Nguyen Khac Giang

The Communist Party of Vietnam's General Secretary has directed his government to take concrete steps to encourage private sector growth and foster ‘national champions’ capable of global competition.

Vietnam Vietnamese Economy

22 Apr 2025

Vietnam Navigates Trump’s Trade Headwinds: Making Virtue Out of Necessity

Hoang Thi Ha

Vietnam has been navigating the potential trade headwinds from the second Trump administration with pragmatism and opportunism, aligning with Trump’s transactional approach. The focus has been on fostering corporate partnerships, framing Vietnam-US economic ties as win-win instead of virtue-signalling on free trade.

U.S.-Vietnam Relations Vietnam Vietnamese Economy Vietnamese Politics

22 Apr 2025

Vietnam’s New Revolution: Will Provincial Mergers Bring Disruptions or Opportunities?

Le Hong Hiep

If all goes well, Vietnam’s bold administrative reform to trim its local and provincial bureaucracy and governments could unleash more power in the country’s socioeconomic engines and secure its leader’s legacy. Teething problems can be expected, nonetheless.

Civil Society Vietnam Vietnamese Politics

17 Apr 2025

Xi’s Visit to Vietnam: It’s Not All About Trump

Hoang Thi Ha

Hanoi’s welcome of the Chinese president amid the global tariff war is a harbinger of steadfast commitment to serving Vietnam’s national interests and development, rather than a picking of sides.

China China-Vietnam Relations Vietnam