2025 Review: Vietnam’s Diplomatic & Economic Breakthroughs

Top 10 Outstanding Foreign Affairs Milestones of Vietnam in 2025

In 2025, foreign affairs activities achieved significant results, contributing to Vietnam’s shining status as a reliable destination for international friends.

The year 2025 has concluded, yet concerns regarding an unpredictable and volatile world remain. However, as the “2025 calendar” closes, a major driving force emerges: we proudly and confidently affirm that foreign affairs work has achieved extremely important results. These achievements have contributed to Vietnam continuing to shine as a trusted destination for international friends amidst the myriad fluctuations of the regional and global situation.

Concluding the year 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summarized and selected the 10 outstanding foreign affairs milestones:

1. Vibrant High-Level Diplomatic Activities with Substantive Results The year 2025 recorded a new peak in Vietnam’s high-level foreign affairs activities in terms of density, scale, and stature. Key leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government conducted approximately 75 foreign affairs activities; signed nearly 350 agreements and commitments with partners; and welcomed nearly 40 high-level foreign delegations. Taking place in the context of complex international and regional fluctuations, these activities have contributed to consolidating political trust, expanding cooperation space, and affirming Vietnam’s increasingly distinct role, voice, and position.

2. Issuance of Strategic Documents on Foreign Affairs and Integration Strategic guidelines and important content regarding foreign affairs were formulated and issued, notably the draft Documents of the 14th National Party Congress; Politburo Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new situation; and Resolution 250/2025/QH15 on specific mechanisms and policies to enhance the effectiveness of international integration. These documents define foreign affairs and international integration as essential and regular tasks.

3. Organizational Restructuring of the Foreign Affairs Apparatus (Resolution 18-NQ/TW) Significant restructuring took place, including the merger of the Central Commission for External Relations and the transfer of partial functions and tasks of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The foreign affairs apparatus is now lean, compact, and strong, operating more effectively and ensuring seamless coordination among foreign affairs forces. Digital transformation in foreign affairs was accelerated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web Portal, the Document Management and Administration System, and the Ministry-level Data Sharing and Integration Platform (LGSP) serve as critical “digital links” to realize the comprehensive digital transformation strategy of the diplomatic sector.

4. Elevating and Deepening Frameworks with Key Partners 2025 marked a significant development in Vietnam’s network of foreign relations in both breadth and depth. Vietnam upgraded relations with 17 countries, bringing the total number of partners at the level of Comprehensive Partnership or higher to 42 countries (including the establishment of Strategic Partnerships with 3 countries in the Middle East – Africa region for the first time). Diplomatic relations were established with Tuvalu, raising the total number of diplomatic partners to 194 countries. notably, the completion of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework with all 5 Permanent Members of the UN Security Council is a strategic milestone, reflecting Vietnam’s rising prestige and creating a solid foundation for long-term cooperation amidst international order adjustments.

5. Economic Diplomacy: A Pillar for Development with Breakthrough Guidelines Amidst rising global protectionism and economic competition, economic diplomacy continues to be identified as a crucial pillar serving national development, featuring many breakthrough, shaping guidelines and achieving substantive results. Vietnam maintains its position as a bright spot in trade and investment, with total export turnover exceeding USD 920 billion, maintaining a continuous trade surplus for a decade. Many leading global economic corporations continued to expand investment and business operations in Vietnam. External economics and economic diplomacy, linked with science-technology diplomacy, were deployed synchronously, contributing to flexible and effective responses to external fluctuations. Efforts to monitor and handle partners’ policy adjustments, especially regarding tariffs, were promoted alongside upgrading and expanding cooperation frameworks and new-generation FTAs such as CPTPP and RCEP. These efforts helped diversify markets and improve the economy’s competitiveness, resilience, and autonomy.

6. Contributions to the Success of Major National Anniversaries Foreign affairs contributed to the successful organization of significant events, including the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, and the 80th Anniversary of National Day (September 2), attended by high-level leaders of various countries and international political parties. Notably, the 80th Anniversary of National Day featured, for the first time, a parade contingent representing the community of nearly 6.5 million overseas Vietnamese. The invitation of military forces from traditional friendly countries to participate in parades during major holidays holds deep symbolic meaning, demonstrating friendship while conveying a clear message of Vietnam’s independent, self-reliant, and peace-loving foreign policy.

7. Successful Hosting of High-Level Multilateral Conferences and Re-election to the UN Human Rights Council Multilateral diplomacy continued to be a highlight of 2025. Vietnam successfully organized major international events such as the 2nd ASEAN Future Forum, the P4G Summit, and the Signing Ceremony of the UN Convention on Cybercrime. Specifically, the global convention named the “Hanoi Convention” demonstrates the international community’s recognition of Vietnam’s role, contribution, and constructive capacity in shaping global rules. Furthermore, Vietnam was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026–2028 term with a high number of votes, leading the Asia-Pacific Group, reflecting international trust in Vietnam’s balanced, humane approach aligned with its development conditions.

8. Announcement of Baselines for Vietnam’s Territorial Sea in the Gulf of Tonkin On February 21, 2025, based on Resolution No. 68/NQ-UBTVQH15 dated February 14, 2025, of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued the Declaration on the baselines used to calculate the breadth of Vietnam’s territorial sea in the Gulf of Tonkin. This creates an additional legal basis for protecting and enforcing Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, contributing to economic development, marine management, and promoting international cooperation; while actively promoting substantive and effective negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

9. Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power Enhancement Vietnam successfully lobbied UNESCO to inscribe 7 additional titles/heritage sites, raising the total number of UNESCO titles to 77. Notably, the World Heritage Committee inscribed the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscapes Complex as Vietnam’s ninth World Heritage Site and the first new inter-provincial heritage site inscribed in 11 years. External information work became increasingly proactive, promoting the national image while protecting the Party’s ideological foundation and national interests. With over 21 million international visitors, 2025 opened a new tourism era for Vietnam, achieving the highest record of visitor arrivals to date.

10. Successful Citizen Protection in Hotspots Vietnam successfully protected and evacuated thousands of citizens from hotspots such as Israel, Iran, and complex situations in Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, bringing them home safely. ensuring citizen safety contributes to consolidating people’s trust in the Party and State’s correct, reasonable, and sensible guidelines and policies. Work regarding overseas Vietnamese continues to be implemented consistently and effectively in the spirit of Resolution 36-NQ/TW, strengthening the great national unity bloc.