Putin in Vietnam: A Friendship That Refuses to Die

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking the second stop of his East Asian tour. This visit follows his lavish trip to North Korea and highlights the diplomatic support Russia still enjoys in the region. The United States has criticized the visit, claiming it provides a platform for Putin to promote his actions in Ukraine.

Despite these criticisms, Vietnam continues to value its historic ties with Russia while simultaneously strengthening relationships with Europe and the US. A notable symbol of this enduring friendship is a five-meter high statue of Lenin in Hanoi’s political quarter, where Vietnamese officials lay flowers annually in a gesture of respect.

Vietnam’s relationship with Russia dates back to the 1950s when the Soviet Union provided crucial support to North Vietnam. This bond was further solidified during the Vietnam War and the subsequent invasion of Cambodia in 1978, where Vietnam relied heavily on Soviet assistance. Many senior Vietnamese officials, including Communist Party Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong, studied in Russia and are fluent in the language.

Today, while Vietnam’s economy is more integrated into global markets and its trading partners include China, Asia, the US, and Europe, it still heavily depends on Russian-made military equipment and partnerships with Russian oil companies for exploration in the South China Sea.

The Ukraine invasion posed a diplomatic challenge for Vietnam, which it has navigated by abstaining from UN resolutions condemning Russia while maintaining good relations with Ukraine. This balanced approach reflects Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” strategy, which seeks to befriend all nations without forming formal alliances.

Vietnam has also strengthened ties with the US, despite their history of conflict, in pursuit of lucrative markets and to balance its relationship with China. The US has objected to Putin’s visit to Vietnam, arguing that it undermines efforts to isolate him internationally. However, public sentiment in Vietnam is more ambivalent about the Ukraine war, with some admiration for Putin’s defiance of the West and skepticism towards US and European claims of upholding international law.

This ambivalence is not unique to Vietnam but is seen in other Asian countries like Thailand, which also maintains strong ties with Russia. The contribution of Russian tourists to Thailand’s economy is highly valued.

The future of Vietnam’s relationship with Russia remains uncertain. While Vietnam is seeking alternative sources for military equipment, reducing its dependence on Russia will take time. Recent high-level resignations within the Communist Party suggest internal rivalries over the country’s direction, but the goal of being “friends to all, enemies of none” remains steadfast.