Vietnam's Foreign Policy

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the making of Vietnam’s foreign policy, its transformation under Doi Moi (Đổi mới), and its contemporary challenges. The chapter is divided into three sections. The first provides an overview of key drivers, objectives, principals, and actors involved in the making of Vietnam’s foreign policy. The second assesses transformations in Vietnam’s foreign policy under Doi Moi by examining major political and policy documents, especially those released by CPV congresses, and how these changes are reflected in actual developments of the country’s foreign relations. The final sections examine two contemporary foreign policy challenges that Vietnam is facing: the South China Sea disputes and how to maintain a balance between China and the United States.