Navigating Socialism, Security, and China in Laos-Vietnam Relations

Lao-Vietnam friendship monument from Muang Phin in south central Laos, a testament to communist cooperation during the second Indochina war.

“The history of Vietnam and Laos’ intimate relations ensures that neither country can stray far from the other. Yet in their shared desire for strategic autonomy and economic development, Vietnam and Laos face increasingly difficult questions over their relations with a rising China. As this triangular interplay tilts towards China, Vietnam should understand that Laos’ pull towards its giant northern neighbor stems also from its own domestic and economic limitations. Like Vietnam’s rising status in the global economy, Vietnam’s standing vis-à-vis Laos also hinges on its infrastructural and institutional capacity to continue growth and augment its value for Laos. To fix its foreign policy woes, Vietnam should perhaps not just look outward but also inward to ensure its future economic development and thereby the future of its alliance with Laos.”

Writing for The Diplomat, To Minh Son considers the complicated questions for the future of the longstanding friendly relationship between Vietnam and Laos. As China continues to rise as a regional power and plays an increasingly active role in both the Laotian and Vietnamese economy, both socialist Southeast Asian nations are entangled in complicated political questions of how to sustain their country’s domestic growth while smoothly navigating regional diplomacy.