Vietnam’s diplomatic strategy amid COVID – 19 pandemic 

Nguyen Hong Thao

Dr. Nguyen Hong Thao is a professor of International Law at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador at Kuwait, and the Second Vice Chairman of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC). 

Vietnamese diplomacy is built on three pillars: political and security diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and cultural diplomacy. During the COVID – 19 pandemic, together with the Government and people, the Vietnamese Diplomacy carried out a new task: Health diplomacy.

Although being skeptical, no one can deny that Vietnam, an economically weak country with inadequate health infrastructure has had an effective disease control policy with the lowest economic costs (Before the epidemic, there were 900 intensive beds in Ho Chi Minh City and 300 ventilators in Hanoi).

This achievement is a combination of many factors from the early drastic leadership of the Government, the unanimity and discipline of the people, the effective coordination of all agencies, tight control and quarantine, sharing information in a transparent manner, extensive hygiene awareness and use high technology. It is impossible not to mention the role of diplomacy in the pandemic shown in the three anti-epidemic phases, whose division is relative.

Like other countries, Vietnam has to face two contradistinctive goals of disease control and economic development. Vietnam has not hesitated to put the goal of protecting people first, even if it has to sacrifice some economic benefits. Vietnam does not choose to lock down the whole society but maintains the social distancing and staying at home to the maximum extent but not affecting the production and exchange of goods. In the first phase, from the outbreak in January to March 25, 2020, date of temporally closing international flights, the Vietnamese Diplomacy focused on two tasks: 1) consulting the Government on regulating the scale and the time of gradually closing the border gates in the way of unaffectedness of foreign relations and economy and 2) doing well citizens protection.

In the spirit of leaving no one behind, taking care of all the Vietnamese wherever they are in the world, Vietnamese representative agencies abroad have assisted rescuing thousands of Vietnamese stranded at foreign airports to return home safely. Requirements for following instructions and cooperating with local authorities amid pandemic are given to the Vietnamese overseas. The Prime Minister sent a letter to Vietnamese overseas on April 10, 2020.

Vietnam not only takes care of its nationals but also foreigners living and working in Vietnam (Japan 20,000, South Korea 170,000, Taiwan 20,000, and others). Vietnamese and foreign patients enjoy freely quarantine care and medical treatment, showing respect for equality, non-discrimination, and human rights through actions. Former French Ambassador in Hanoi, Jean-Noel Poirier, a COVID patient – 19 expressed his thanks for the Vietnamese treatment regimen. Vietnamese diplomacy has mobilized international and Vietnamese overseas support to the Government in the combat against coronavirus. The United States donated 3 million dollars, Japan supported 200 million Yen, South Korea offered biological products, quick diagnostic kit, testing equipment. Singaporean Temasek Foundation donated 10 ventilators. A Vietnamese company based in Japan has announced to help the Government with 2000 ventilators and manufactured in Vietnam 15,000 units. The Vietnamese diplomacy has supported to advertise the image of Vietnam in unifying to combat against disease to the world through the introduction of  EndCoV (Ghen co Vy in Vietnamese) song, posters, and notices from the Ministry of Health.

In phase 2, Vietnam has struggled to control the spread of the disease and simultaneously has shown itself to be friends with all countries and responsible State. Shipments of qualified medical devices manufactured in Vietnam have been exported to the US. Fast kid tests in one hour invented in Vietnam have been imported by 20 countries. Donations of medical equipment have been sent to support European countries (England, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and regional friends (Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Indonesia).

Vietnamese Diplomacy is helping entrepreneurs finding supply orders for the purpose of turning risks into opportunities. Vietnam can completely become a new center of supply of qualified medical equipment if it’s capable to take this opportunity. This is a relevant act to respond to UN General Assembly calls for “international cooperation” and “multilateralism” in the fight against COVID-19. It’s for the need for full respect for human rights. It comes from the basis of traditional friendship and relations and the humanitarian tradition of the Vietnamese who have suffered many wars and pandemics.

It is not a temporary mask diplomatic campaign. In the past, Vietnam helped Japan and Indonesia affected by the earthquake, donated medical supplies and equipment to China in the right starting days when epidemic out broke in Wuhan. The value of Vietnamese consignments is not large, but it comes from the sincerity between friends who share the same affliction and at the right time. President Donald Trump tweeted thanks to friends in Vietnam. US Senator Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) expressed very grateful for the people of Vietnam and their generosity during this time. The support of Vietnam is made in the best effort when the country still needs to be vigilant to fight against COVID-19. Therefore, Vietnam has won the trust of international friends.

The pandemic affected the arrangement of diplomatic events in the year of 2020 when Vietnam was a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and Chairman of ASEAN. But Vietnam is always proactive in its initiatives. The first meeting of the UN Security Council on coronavirus pandemic was held on 4/4/2020 at the initiative of Vietnam and 8 non-permanent countries. At this meeting, Ambassador Dang Dang Quy emphasized the importance of solidarity and multilateral cooperation in pandemic.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and ASEAN leaders issued ASEAN Chairman’s Statement on ASEAN Collective Response to the Outbreak of COVID-19, emphasizing the association’s priority to deal with the disease and urge the international community to support ASEAN in this effort. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh chaired the ASEAN-EU meeting on March 20, 2020, affirming that Vietnam has been coordinating closely with other member countries to promote a synchronous and overall approach for the whole ASEAN Community, to improve readiness, gear up active response measures and mitigate the pandemic’s impacts, reflecting a truly “cohesive and responsive” ASEAN. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who also chairs the 41st Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly, sent a letter to heads of the member parliaments of the ASEAN on March 30, called on each AIPA member parliament to stand side by side and join hands with the governments of the ASEAN member countries in response to the pandemic. Similar determinations were also confirmed in ASEAN + 3 meetings, phone conversations with heads of states in the world. An ASEAN Pandemic Response Fund is on its way of formation under the chairmanship of the ASEAN Chairmanship.

During a pandemic, Vietnamese diplomacy has not forgotten its main political task. Vietnam defends its legitimate rights in the South China Sea. On March 30, 2020, Vietnam asserted its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands as well as legal rights on the continental shelf in accordance with UNCLOS. Vietnam also strongly protested the fishing vessel sinking by Chinese coast guard vessels nearby to Paracel Islands. A vigilance has been risen up in international attitude to prevent any use of the coronavirus pandemic as cover for asserting illegal control over the South China Sea.

Vietnamese Diplomacy is preparing for phase 3, living with coronavirus and post-COVID-19. Just like its lucky escape from the 2007 economic crisis this time Vietnam stepped out of the COVID – 19 pandemic with a new stance. The Vietnamese economy, which is preserved with the least possible loss due to the epidemic, will have a strong raise. Lessons from COVID-19 show that globalization is necessary but it should be controlled and the national economy requires certain independence and self-sufficiency. The global supply chain will change. Vietnam and ASEAN countries will have the opportunity to receive the new wave of foreign investment, of reformation of the world supply chain and economy if they have a good plan. The ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) by the European Council on March 30, 2020, is a signal for that going ahead. Vietnam’s economy must be restructured in diversifying supply sources and orders.  The enhanced reputation of Vietnam in the international arena facilitates its more participation and voice of a responsible State on the world forums.

Vietnamese diplomacy in this phase aims to help the Government in restoring normal life and economic activities. It should focus on the limitations of the harmful impacts of COVID-19 as follows:

– Strengthening international cooperation and unity” in minimizing the impact of COVID-19. The cooperation must be carried out at all levels, international, regional, sub-regional, with all countries and international organizations to have the best joint action.

– Having a comprehensive vision and an action plan to set up a permanent mechanism in ASEAN, ASEAN + 3, ASEAN + EU, and the Response Fund to serve long-term benefits and prevent future pandemics.

– Lifting gradually restrictions with under strict control of border gates, and overcoming fearful and discriminatory attitudes to ensure travel and trade as soon as possible, and to ensure normal living for both domestic and foreign people. Sharing information nationwide and worldwide of any epidemic disease in a transparent manner is an important factor for fighting against future pandemic.
– Turning challenges into opportunities to help businesses finding new areas of cooperation and production. The national economy must be restructured based on the application of 4.0 and 5.0 technologies, agriculture-based economy, digital commerce, and online payment.

– Enhancing the leading role among ASEAN and the role of a responsible State in the world political activities. 

COVID-19 once again challenges Vietnam and Vietnam has bravery been turning risks into opportunities in accordance with the principle of “firm in objectives, flexible in strategies and tactics” (dĩ bất biến, ứng vạn biến), stated by Ho Chi Minh, the first Vietnamese Foreign Minister. Under this guideline, Vietnam, including the Vietnamese diplomacy, is turning big disaster into the small, from the small into no longer a risk but an opportunity to move forward, creating a soft power to the country.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the University of Oregon.