Emerging Voices Vol 6
Bamboo Diplomacy in the New Era:
Vietnam’s Foreign Policy Under To Lam
April 2025
By Nguyễn Khac Giang
Visiting Fellow in the Vietnam Studies Programme at the
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Vietnam faces economic and security challenges as it enters a new “Era of National Rise.” In the latest report in our Emerging Voices series, Nguyen Khac Giang argues that Hanoi must recalibrate its bamboo diplomacy to navigate diminished institutional capacity and an increasingly complex strategic landscape.
About Nguyễn Khac Giang
Nguyễn Khắc Giang is a Vietnamese writer and researcher. He is currently a Visiting Fellow in the Vietnam Studies Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Previously, he led the Political Unit at the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) and worked as a journalist in Hanoi. Giang holds a PhD in Political Science from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
Key Messages
1. Vietnam’s ‘bamboo diplomacy’ has enabled it to navigate complex international relations but needs to be recalibrated as the country confronts diminished institutional capacity and a complex strategic environment.
2. To Lam, the new chief of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, is well positioned to reorient Vietnam’s foreign policy from cautious hedger to an increasingly assertive middle power.
3. To effectively address emerging challenges and opportunities for Vietnam, he must modernise established systems while preserving Vietnam’s traditional diplomatic strengths—patience, pragmatism, and careful balancing.
Read Vol 6 of the Emerging Voices Series
Emerging Voices Series
The Emerging Voices series presents a selection of engaging resources covering special interest topics and emerging issues.
