Thayer Consultancy Background Brief:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Vietnam’s Bamboo Diplomacy:
A Strategy or a School of
Diplomacy?
January 8, 2024

Q1. When did Vietnam adopt bamboo diplomacy? Why did the Vietnamese
Government choose such a diplomatic path at this time?
ANSWER: In January 2016, the Political Report to the Twelfth National Congress of
the Vietnam Communist Party (VCP) called on Vietnam to consistently carry out a
foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification of relations and proactive and
active international integration on the basis of “independence, autonomy, peace,
cooperation, and development…”

In order to achieve these broad objectives, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is
credited with introducing the concept of bamboo diplomacy at a national diplomatic
conference in Hanoi in 2016 after he was elected to a second term as party leader.

In December 2021, a National Foreign Affairs Conference in Hanoi reaffirmed the

foreign affairs resolution of the Thirteenth National Congress of the VCP that
Vietnam would form and develop the “Vietnamese bamboo” school of foreign Affairs
and diplomacy.

In sum, Vietnam adopted the concept of bamboo diplomacy to underscore the

fundamental principles guiding foreign policy and the flexible tactics needed in
relations with China and the United States in particular, as well as other major
powers and ASEAN and its members.

Q2. What specific actions of the Vietnam Government are included in the bamboo
diplomacy policy?
ANSWER: A strategy is a long-term plan set to achieve certain objectives and is usually
conceived as involving three processes – ends, ways and means. Bamboo diplomacy
is not a strategy but one of the ways Vietnam will pursue to achieve its objectives. As
General Secretary Trong noted in his address to the 32nd National Diplomatic
Conference in December 2023, Vietnam’s objectives are socialism and independence.
Trong recommended six actions:
First, carry out the guidance in resolutions adopted by the Politburo and Central
Committee “on developing relations with a number of important partners, ASEAN
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cooperation, Mekong Sub-Region cooperation, and economic diplomacy work with

Vietnamese residing abroad.”
Second, Vietnam’s foreign policy and diplomacy “have promoted new positions and
new forces” opening relations with 193 countries and territories and boosting
Vietnam’s international prestige and reputation. Vietnam should continue developing
relations with “neighbouring countries and major countries, strategic partner
countries, most ASEAN countries, many important partners and traditional friends” to
navigate “complex and unpredictable changes in the world and region.”
Third, foreign affairs and diplomacy must be closely coordinated with national defence
and security at all levels to create a stable environment for development.
Fourth, foreign affairs and diplomacy must take the lead in mobilizing external
resources for Vietnam’s socio-economic development by improving the efficiency of
foreign economic relations,
Fifth, Vietnam should continue to pursue international integration proactively and
actively more comprehensively and deeply.
Sixth, the party’s foreign affairs, state diplomacy and people’s diplomacy must be
carried out synchronously.
Q3. What benefits and risks has bamboo diplomacy brought for Vietnam?
ANSWER: Vietnam’s bamboo diplomacy has created an expansive network of
multifaceted political-diplomatic relations with all the major states and important
multilateral institutions across the globe. This has resulted in Vietnam’s high prestige
and standing in the international community and assisted in Vietnam’s economic
development.
Vietnam cannot be all things to all states. While the risks of alignment with a major
power outweigh the risks of staying aloof, Vietnam cannot entirely mitigate the impact
of great power rivalry. For example, Vietnam has suspended major arms
procurements from Russia in order to avoid U.S. sanctions. Russia continually presses
Vietnam to meet its existing commitments. The end result is that Vietnam’s plans for
the modernization of the Vietnam Peoples’ Army are marking time and the disparity
in power between Vietnam and China keeps growing to the latter’s advantage.
There is also a second category of risk that of an opportunity cost. This risk arises when
Vietnam, concerned about antagonizing a major power, foregoes an opportunity to
cooperate with another major power that is in Vietnam’s interest.
Q4. Vietnam announced it wanted to be friends with all countries worldwide. Last
year, Vietnam upgraded relations with several countries, such as South Korea, the
U.S., and Japan. At the same time, Vietnam also affirmed its close relationship with
China. In the context of an increasingly divided world and confrontation between
major countries, will the strategy of "not choosing sides" assist Vietnam to create
enough trust and commitment with other countries?
ANSWER: The degree of trust between states depends on the sector of cooperation.
Trust in economic relations is easier to build because of international law and mutual
interest. Trust in defence and security cooperation is extremely sensitive because
changes in the balance of power can alter national interests. Small countries like
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Vietnam are forever mindful that major powers can easily pivot from confrontation to
collaboration with their rival.
Vietnam’s strategy is to give all major powers equity in its independent role. Major
powers will support Vietnam not because they trust Vietnam but because failure to
do so will benefit their strategic rivals.
Q5. What is the future of bamboo diplomacy?
ANSWER: Bamboo diplomacy will persist in the future because it is non-ideological
and is founded on pragmatism and national interest. Vietnam’s fundamental interests
– the ends of strategy – to remain independent and socialist are unlikely to alter.
Bamboo diplomacy means giving and taking tactically to achieve long-term ends.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Vietnam’s Bamboo Diplomacy: A Strategy or a

School of Diplomacy?” Thayer Consultancy Background Brief, January 8, 2024. All
background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for Thayer). To remove yourself
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