Vietnam International Relationships

Before launching economic revolution policy, Vietnam mainly had diplomatic relationship with former Soviet Union and the countries in Socialist Bloc. Nowadays, thanks to open-door economic policies, Vietnam's international relations have become more diverse.

The relation between Vietnam and China was normalized in 1991. In July 1995, Vietnam gained a historical turning point in diplomatic relation: Vietnam-USA diplomatic relation was fully normalized. In the same year, Vietnam became an official member of ASEAN, and it has signed a cooperation declaration with European Union. Now, Vietnam has had diplomatic relation with over 160 countries and trade relation with 120 countries and territories.

Vietnam renewed the relation with international financial institution (IFI) and multi-credit organization like World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Asian Development Bank (ADB). Vietnam has become a member of ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) since January, 1st 1996 and became a full member of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from 1998. Vietnam has been admitted to World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2007. At present, Vietnam holds membership of 63 International Organizations and maintains relations with over 650 Non-Governmental Organizations worldwide. Through its activities, Vietnam has been playing an increasingly important role within the UN as a member of the UN Security Council, ECOSOC, UNDP, UNFPA and UPU Executive Councils, as well as in,  among others, the Non-Aligned Movement, Francophone and ASEAN.

Multilateral diplomacy has been a highlight in Vietnam’s external activities in the renewal era. Achievements in this respect have remarkably contributed to enhancing Vietnam’s international prestige.