Over the past 80 years, since the historic milestone of August 1945, Vietnamese diplomacy - founded by President Ho Chi Minh, a genius leader and an outstanding diplomat, and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam - has consistently upheld its revolutionary mettle, carried forward its proud traditions, devoted itself to serving the Fatherland and the people, and made important contributions to the nation’s great victories.

Vietnamese diplomacy has left a profound imprint on every stage of the country’s history, from the struggle to win and safeguard national independence and achieve national reunification to the task of building and defending the Fatherland.

Diplomacy in the cause of national liberation and reunification

From its inception, the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh attached great importance to diplomacy as a vital means of safeguarding national interests. 

President Ho Chi Minh once stated: “The highest level of fighting is to use schemes. The second is to use diplomacy. The third is to use soldiers.”(1)

During the subsequent period of struggle for national liberation and reunification, diplomacy left a profound mark on the nation’s glorious victories, from securing and defending national independence in the early days of the revolutionary administration, to triumphs in the wars of resistance against colonialists and imperialists, the liberation of the South and national reunification, and the post-war cause of national reconstruction.

During the period of safeguarding the country’s nascent independence, when the nation’s fate hung “by a thread” amid “internal strife and external threats” (1945-1946), diplomacy always played a pioneering role in preserving the revolutionary achievements, safeguarding the people’s administration, and buying time to consolidate forces for the nation’s protracted resistance war.

A major diplomatic achievement of this period was the signing of the Preliminary Agreement on March 6, 1946, and the temporary agreement (Modus Vivendi) on September 14, 1946, along with diplomatic efforts at the Da Lat Conference and the Fontainebleau Conference (France). 

Diplomacy skillfully managed relations simultaneously with five major powers and confronted four foreign armies numbering more than 300,000 troops. This was an outstanding diplomatic maneuver that placed the country in the most advantageous position possible under the extremely challenging circumstances of the time.

As the resistance war against French colonialism (1946-1954) began, diplomacy both served the resistance and actively worked to break the encirclement and isolation imposed on the country, expand external relations, and leverage on the support and assistance of international friends. 

Vietnamese diplomacy contributed to the formation of a combat alliance with Laos and Cambodia, and encouraged the Soviet Union, China, and other socialist countries to recognise Vietnam, and establish official diplomatic relations, thereby creating a second major rear base for the resistance against French colonialists.

In coordination with the military front, Vietnamese diplomacy capitalised on major victories on the battlefield, especially the historic Dien Bien Phu victory, to intensify negotiations at the conference table, compelling the world’s major powers to sign the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina. 

The signing of the Geneva Accords brought a complete end to nearly a century of colonial rule in Vietnam, affirmed Vietnam’s fundamental national rights of independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and provided an important political and legal foundation for subsequent struggles on the political and diplomatic fronts in the cause of liberating the South and achieving national reunification.

During the struggle to liberate the South and achieve national reunification (1954-1975), in the context of “using the weak to confront the strong”, diplomacy became “an important front of strategic significance.” (2)

Diplomacy mobilised the strength of the three revolutionary currents, built solidarity and combat alliances with Laos and Cambodia, contributing to the revolutionary victories of each country, while securing assistance and support from fraternal socialist countries, especially the Soviet Union and China, and establishing a broad international front in support of the just cause of the Vietnamese people.

The statement by Cuban President Fidel Castro “For Vietnam, the Cuban people are ready to give even their own blood” became an emblematic slogan of the progressive world’s support for Vietnam. 

In particular, diplomacy worked in close coordination with military and political efforts, creating a posture of “fighting while negotiating”, culminating in the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

The successes achieved at the negotiation table compelled the US to de-escalate the war and sign the Paris Agreement in 1973, withdrawing all troops and weapons from South Vietnam and creating favourable conditions for strengthening Vietnam’s revolutionary forces. 

Thereafter, the battlefield situation shifted in favour of the Vietnamese revolution, creating an opportunity to completely liberate the South and reunify the country.

During the post-war period of national reconstruction and economic development (1975-1986), diplomacy served as a core and pioneering force in the struggle to break the country out of political isolation and economic blockade and embargo. 

Following the historic victory of April 30, 1975, diplomatic efforts continued to affirm the legitimacy of Vietnam’s international mission to assist the Cambodian people in escaping the genocidal Pol Pot regime while also overcome political isolation and economic embargoes, and broader socio-economic challenges.

Vietnam persistently sought to restore friendly neighbourly relations with China and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), opposed policies of blockade and embargo, expanded relations with nationalist and non-aligned countries, gradually broadened ties with developed capitalist countries and boosted international linkages. 

This period also marked Vietnam’s accession to major international multilateral organisations and forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1976 and the United Nations (UN) in 1977.

Diplomacy in the cause of renewal and international integration

During the renewal period from 1986 to the present, diplomacy has played a pioneering role, taking the lead in building peace and safeguarding the Fatherland “early and from afar”, while creating a favourable external environment for national construction and defence. 

Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development; diversification and multilateralisation of external relations; and proactive, active international integration in the national interest has been crystallised through the process of reform and opening amid both domestic and international changes, achieving significant and historically meaningful  accomplishments.

In the early years of reform, when the country faced severe socio-economic difficulties at home and fierce hostility from adverse forces, diplomacy proactively implemented a range of measures. These efforts helped reduce hostile pressure, restore dialogue, and gradually improve relations with major powers and regiona countries, thereby creating a new favourable position for the subsequent phase of diversification and multilateralisation of international relations.

From the 1990s onward, in line with the policy of “diversification and multilateralisation”, Vietnam expanded, upgraded, and elevated its relations with partners, particularly neighbouring countries, major powers, and other key partners. 

From a country once subjected to blockade, isolation, and embargo, Vietnam has now established diplomatic relations with 194 countries and developed a network of 38 partners at the level of comprehensive partnership or higher. This network includes all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, all ASEAN member states, all G7 countries(3), 18 of the 20 G20 economies(4), and reflects Vietnam’s active membership in more than 70 international groupings.

The upgrading and elevation of relations with key and important partners have enhanced Vietnam’s strategic stature, deepened cooperation, laid a solid foundation for long-term and sustainable relationships, and created the most favourable external environment ever for national construction and defense.

Alongside national defence and security, diplomacy has contributed to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and safeguarding the Fatherland “early and from afar”. 

Border issues with relevant countries have been gradually resolved, creating a legal basis and favourable conditions for building borders of peace, friendship, and cooperation, promoting socio-economic development, and strengthening regional peace and stability.

Diplomacy has effectively countered activities infringing upon Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and national interests at sea; promoted negotiations and cooperation to address outstanding issues; ensured the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and actively participated in the formulation of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Diplomacy has also actively engaged in struggles in the fields of democracy, human rights, religion, and ethnic affairs, contributing to the maintenance of national security, social order, and public safety.

Multilateral diplomacy has enhanced Vietnam’s role and stature, affirming the country as an active and responsible member of the international community. 

Vietnam joined ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and has steadily expanded and promoted international relations, moving from accession and participation to proactive and substantive contributions as a responsible member of multilateral and international forums. 

Vietnam has taken part in initiating and shaping a number of new cooperation mechanisms, such as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Implementing the Party Central Committee Secretariat Directive No. 25-CT/TW dated August 8, 2018, on “promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy by 2030”, Vietnam has shifted from a policy of participation to proactively exercising the role of a “responsible member”; successfully fulfilled many major international responsibilities; and contributed to shaping rules at key regional and global forums, including the United Nations Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Economic and Social Council, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Mekong subregional mechanisms, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). Vietnam has also expanded its contributions to United Nations peacekeeping efforts and international search and rescue operations. 

The country has twice served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2008-2009 and 2020-2021), twice as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (2014-2016 and 2023-2025), and has participated in six of UNESCO’s seven key governing bodies.

Economic diplomacy in the service of development has played an important driving role in socio-economic growth, helping realise development goals and improve people’s livelihoods. 

From a poor country severely devastated by war, Vietnam’s economy has risen strongly and now ranks among the world’s top 32 economies by gross domestic product (GDP). 

Vietnam’s international integration has evolved from purely economic integration to comprehensive and deep integration. 

To date, Vietnam has economic relations with more than 230 countries and territories, and has signed and implemented 17 free trade agreements (FTAs), including new-generation FTAs.

Implementing the Party Central Committee Secretariat Directive No. 15-CT/TW dated August 10, 2022, on “economic diplomacy in the service of the country by 2030”, foreign affairs and diplomacy have mobilised many important resources, such as foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA), helping Vietnam join the group of the world’s 20 largest trading nations and become one of the leading destinations for foreign investment. 

Vietnam has become an important link in many economic networks through more than 500 bilateral and multilateral FTAs, and has engaged major partners in emerging areas such as green transition, digital transformation, and innovation to help strengthen its participation in supply chains and improve its position in global value chains.

Other areas of foreign affair’s work have continued to be implemented effectively and comprehensively. 

Work related to overseas Vietnamese communities has successfully implemented the Party’s and State’s policies of care for nearly six million overseas Vietnamese, strengthening the great national unity bloc and mobilising resources for development through thousands of investment projects and billions of US dollars in annual remittances. 

Consular protection has actively safeguarded the security, safety, and legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens and businesses, especially in areas affected by conflict, natural disasters, and instability. 

External information activities have vigorously promoted the image of the country, its people, culture, and achievements of renewal through creative content and approaches. 

Cultural diplomacy has successfully persuaded the UNESCO to recognise 72 heritage sites and titles, thereby preserving national cultural values and mobilising new resources for local economic, cultural, and social development.

Looking back on the 80-year journey of Vietnamese diplomacy under the Party leadership, these great achievements have been made possible by the correct, wise, and skillful leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by President Ho Chi Minh and generations of Party leaders, and by the tremendous contributions of outstanding diplomats such as Pham Van Dong, Le Duc Tho, Nguyen Duy Trinh, Xuan Thuy, Nguyen Thi Binh, and Nguyen Co Thach. These figures embody the mettle and intellect of Vietnamese diplomacy. 

Diplomacy has truly become a task of the entire political system, with the pillars of foreign affairs working in a comprehensive and coordinated manner: state diplomacy closely integrated with Party diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.

Alongside these important achievements, foreign affairs work has also faced certain limitations, such as the insufficient effectiveness in leveraging favourable factors in the international landscape; the underutilisation of cooperation frameworks already established, particularly in the fields of economy and trade, defence and security, and science and technology; and, at times, a lack of timeliness and sharpness in research and policy advisory work. 

The causes of these shortcomings include objective factors stemming from the rapidly changing and unpredictable global and regional situation, with many unprecedented challenges that complicate responses; however, they are primarily subjective, arising from limitations in domestic capacity.

The achievements attained as well as the remaining shortcomings have yielded valuable lessons for the implementation of foreign affairs and diplomacy in the coming time:

First is the lesson of giving the highest priority to safeguarding national interests. Throughout the 80-year history of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vietnamese diplomacy has consistently heeded President Ho Chi Minh’s instruction that diplomacy “must always serve the interests of the nation”, guided by the spirit of “responding to all changes while holding fast to fundamental principles”. 

Second is the lesson of ensuring the unified and absolute leadership of the Party, maintaining sharp judgment and situational awareness, and demonstrating decisiveness in formulating policies and specific measures. 

Third is the lesson of harmoniously combining internal strength with external resources, national strength with the strength of the times, and mobilising broad material and moral support from progressive forces around the world for Vietnam.

Promoting the “pioneering, key, regular” role of Vietnamese diplomacy in the new era

In the coming years, the global situation is forecast to continue evolving in unpredictable and complex ways. The world order will further move toward multipolarity, multiple centres, and multiple layers, with profound shifts across political, security, economic, military, and science-and-technology domains. 

Localised conflicts and disputes over borders, territory, and natural resources are likely to persist, becoming more multidimensional, unfolding in new spaces, and taking diverse forms. 

Global economic growth is expected to remain unstable due to geopolitical tensions in many regions. 

Strategic competition among major powers will continue to intensify in a comprehensive manner, leading to clearer lines of division and fragmentation across multiple fields, with interlinked impacts on national security and development interests.

Domestically, the period ahead is a pivotal and decisive phase for successfully realising development goals toward 2030, with a vision to 2045, opening a new era of national development. 

Transformations of epochal significance bring new opportunities and favourable conditions, while also posing numerous challenges that require revolutionary policy decisions to seize opportunities in a timely manner and overcome obstacles. 

In the new era, the era of the nation’s rise, Vietnamese diplomacy strives to reach new heights to fulfill new and honourable responsibilities, in line with the spirit of promoting foreign affairs and international integration as key and enduring tasks.

Guided by this thought, Vietnamese diplomacy will inherit and promote the diplomatic traditions of previous generations, draw on the timeless lessons from 80 years of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and continuously innovate to adapt to the new context, while proactively and actively contributing to the successful realisation of the country’s strategic objectives. Key orientations include:

First, to promote its pioneering, “key and regular” role in shaping and consolidating a favourable external environment, serving the three strategic objectives of foreign affairs: security, development, and national stature. 

The overarching goal is to firmly maintain a peaceful, stable, and favourable environment for national construction and defence; resolutely and persistently safeguard independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and national interests in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which Vietnam is a party; contribute to the implementation of strategic socio-economic development tasks; and enhance the country’s role and standing in the international arena. 

To this end, diplomacy must further improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs activities, especially cooperation in political, defence-security, economic, and cultural fields; continue to deepen, stabilise, and enhance partnerships, particularly with neighbouring countries and major powers; prioritise maintaining stability and momentum in foreign relations, strengthening political trust, promoting comprehensive cooperation across fields, and addressing differences and emerging issues in a cooperative spirit, and managing disagreements on the basis of international law.

Second, foreign affairs should play a constructive and driving role in opening new opportunities for the country, connecting internal strengths with external resources, in which internal strength is fundamental and long-term, and external resources are important and potentially breakthrough factors. 

These include resources from trade and investment; trends in economic development and connectivity; a multipolar, multi-centred world order based on international law; and the power of the era of scientific-technological revolution and the knowledge economy. 

Drawing on the experience of more advanced countries, during periods of acceleration and breakthrough, foreign affairs must position the country optimally within the world’s major development trends, while facilitating and connecting cooperation with leading partners in breakthrough and strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. 

The Prime Minister’s Directive No. 05/CT-TTg dated March 1, 2025, on key and breakthrough tasks and solutions to promote economic growth and accelerate public investment disbursement, ensuring nationwide growth of 8% or higher in 2025, identifies priority and breakthrough measures, including continued strengthening of economic diplomacy and technology diplomacy.

Third, to elevate Vietnam’s contributions to peace, cooperation, development, and human progress. The country’s new stature and strength enable Vietnam to engage more deeply and responsibly in addressing common global issues; the nation’s future and destiny are closely linked to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.(5)

Vietnam will not only participate in building and shaping multilateral institutions, but also play a core and leading role in key issues and mechanisms suited to national interests and conditions. 

Accordingly, Vietnam will continue to enhance its contributions at multilateral forums, especially by promoting new initiatives; play a core role in building the ASEAN Community while reinforcing ASEAN’s centrality in the regional security architecture; and actively participate in United Nations activities, particularly in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and contributing to peacekeeping operations.

Fourth, to promote the nation’s “soft power”, enhancing Vietnam’s image and standing in the international arena. In the new era, national soft power is not only an important resource for socio-economic development, but also a bridge connecting Vietnam with the world and fostering friendship among nations. 

Cultural diplomacy, external information activities, and overseas Vietnamese affairs are effective channels for building trust, enhancing mutual understanding, and fostering long-term, reliable relationships, thereby mobilising broad support from countries, international friends, and overseas Vietnamese communities for Vietnam’s renewal cause.

Fifth, to improve the quality of research, forecasting, and strategic advisory work in foreign policy formulation, contributing to deepening the Party’s theoretical foundations on foreign affairs. 

Amid today’s global volatility, research and forecasting play a vital role in ensuring strategic proactiveness. 

Diplomacy must be agile in identifying political, economic, and socio-cultural trends in the region and the world, especially under the sweeping impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

Thus, it seeks to capitalise on international trends and accurately gauge developments in policies and relations among countries, particularly neighbouring states and major powers, to provide sound advice on foreign policy decisions and appropriate diplomatic steps.

Sixth, to build a comprehensive, modern, and professional Vietnamese foreign affairs and diplomacy system that meets the requirements and tasks of the new era. 

Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, parliamentary diplomacy, and the external relations of sectors, localities, and enterprises must be deepened and made more sustainable. 

At the same time, adequate resources should be allocated to ensure appropriate material conditions, infrastructure, and remuneration regimes to meet new demands and tasks.

As President Ho Chi Minh stated, “Cadres are the root of all work,” (6) cadre work must meet the requirements of the new era. The new generation of officials must not only possess qualifications, capacity, and political steadfastness, but also dare to think, dare to act, and dare to innovate, becoming increasingly professional and on par with regional and international standards. 

At the same time, efforts should continue to refine the theoretical foundations of foreign affairs and build a diplomatic school of the Ho Chi Minh era, grounded in Vietnam’s diplomatic traditions and Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought.

After 80 years of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and nearly 40 years of renewal, under the wise leadership of the Party, the country has achieved historic accomplishments that have enhanced its stature in the international arena. 

In every great victory of the nation, diplomacy has left an important imprint. 

Entering the new era of national development, Vietnamese diplomacy will continue to devote its utmost efforts to writing new glorious chapters of Ho Chi Minh-era diplomacy, wholeheartedly serving the Fatherland and the people, upholding the spirit of pioneering, proactiveness, and initiative, thereby helping to create momentum and strategic positioning to enable the country to advance firmly to a new level of development./.

* Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister

(1) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, Vol. 3, p. 562.

(2) Complete Party Documents, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004, Vol. 30, p. 106.

(3) The G7 is the Group of the world’s leading industrialised economies, comprising the US, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada.

(4) The G20 is commonly known as the Group of the world’s leading developed and emerging economies, comprising 19 countries and the European Union. Recently, the African Union (AU) has become the newest member of the G20.

(5) Vietnam News Agency/Tin tuc (News) Newspaper: “Speech by President Luong Cuong at the international conference on the peacebuilding role of diplomacy”, Vietnam News Agency’s Tin Tuc Newspaper, April 23, 2025. https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/phat-bieu-cua-chu-tich-nuoc-luong-cuong-tai-hoi-thao-quoc-te-ve-vai-tro-kien-tao-hoa-binh-cua-ngoai-giao-20250423113213458.htm

(6) Ho Chi Minh: Complete Works, ibid., Vol. 5, p. 309.