The Bamboo Policy of Vietnam: The Approach and Its Role in International Diplomacy

Abstract

In the first two decades of the 21st century, Vietnam emerged as a rising middle-power nation in Southeast Asia with significant achievements, particularly in enhancing its international political standing through flexible and effective diplomatic strategies. Vietnam's “Bamboo Diplomacy” is regarded as a model of diplomacy for countries with similar size and capacity. This study analyzes the reasons why Vietnam's diplomacy during this period is referred to as “bamboo diplomacy”, by exploring the origin of this term and comparing it with Thailand's diplomatic policy. The article applies two theoretical frameworks: the conceptual metaphor theory in linguistics and Qin Yaqing's theory of relationality in world politics. The research methodology primarily involves library-based references and qualitative discourse analysis. The findings not only explain the reasons behind the term “bamboo diplomacy” but also clarify the similarities and differences between the diplomatic policies of Vietnam and Thailand, especially in terms of protecting national interests and maintaining independence and autonomy in the international context.