This is the assessment of Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau - Director of the Institute of Politics and International Relations, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics in an interview with VNA.
Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau said: "The working trip to three ASEAN countries of General Secretary and President To Lam (July 27 - June 1, 2026) takes place in a special geopolitical context, when the post-Cold War world order is entering a stage of fundamental restructuring. Not simply a series of bilateral contacts, this visit demonstrates the strategic stature of proactive, constructive diplomacy, reflecting the shift from adaptive thinking to strategic environment-shaping thinking".
The Director of the Institute of Politics and International Relations (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics) pointed out that, regarding the timing, the General Secretary and President's choice to carry out this visit right in the first months of his term is of profound strategic orientation.
This is not a coincidence but a manifestation of a consistent mindset, which is to put ASEAN's neighborly and intra-regional relations in a priority position in Vietnam's entire foreign affairs activities.
In the theory of strategic priority order, which action a leader starts his term with is a strong signal about policy orientation. General Secretary and President To Lam chose ASEAN as a very meaningful choice.
The visit takes place when the world is facing 3 structural crises that the General Secretary and President has pointed out, which are the international order crisis, the development model crisis and the strategic trust crisis. These three crises are not separate phenomena but have a causal relationship with each other, creating a negative spiral that is threatening global peace and development.
The international order crisis stems from the erosion of the multilateral system and international law in the face of unilateralization and new protectionism; the development model crisis reflects the deadlock of unsustainable and non-inclusive growth models; and the strategic trust crisis between countries is paralyzing international dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.
In that context, the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam is not only reactionary but also constructive. This is a manifestation of a new diplomatic philosophy, instead of passively waiting for a stable strategic environment before acting, Vietnam actively participates in shaping that environment by strengthening stability pillars in the region. ASEAN, with three countries Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines, are those pillars" - Dr. Dao Ngoc Bau shared.
The Director of the Institute of Politics and International Relations further informed that regarding the frequency and intensity of diplomacy, the fact that the General Secretary and President visited 3 countries in a continuous journey reflects a focused and focused diplomatic strategy.
These three countries are not randomly selected but represent three distinct but complementary strategies in the ASEAN structure. Thailand has an important geopolitical position in mainland Southeast Asia and a bridge role between ASEAN and the Mekong sub-region; Singapore with its position as a strategic financial, technological and maritime transportation center; and the Philippines with its importance for maritime security and unique geographical position in superpower relations.
This choice reflects a systematic thinking about a multi-layered regional security structure, in which each country has its own role and position but contributes to common stability and development. This is also Vietnam's way of practicing the principle of strategic balance, not leaning entirely in one direction but maintaining multi-dimensional, multi-layered relations with all partners, contributing to creating a balanced and sustainable regional structure" - he said.
