Bamboo Diplomacy: Vietnam’s Strategy of Resilience nd Flexibility in a Multipolar World

Abstract

This article analyses Vietnam’s concept of “bamboo diplomacy” as a pragmatic instrument of statecraft in an era of intensifying great-power competition. Through qualitative document analysis of official policy statements, party congress reports, bilateral communiqués and contemporaneous media, together with a small set of comparative case studies, the paper traces how Hanoi operationalises resilience, adaptability and selective alignment to defend sovereign interests and expand diplomatic room for manoeuvre. Examining episodes in Vietnam–China maritime interactions, evolving security and economic ties with the United States, and Hanoi’s initiatives within ASEAN, the study identifies three mutually reinforcing pillars of bamboo diplomacy: tactical flexibility to seize strategic openings; principled firmness on core issues such as territorial integrity; and networked multilateralism that leverages diversified partnerships. The evidence indicates that bamboo diplomacy constitutes a calibrated form of soft balancing — avoiding formal military coalitions while deepening partnerships that collectively raise the costs of coercion. The article situates this indigenous diplomatic idiom within contemporary international relations theory and assesses its limits, notably economic dependence on China and constrained defence capacities. It concludes by reflecting on the potential applicability of Vietnam’s approach for other middle powers navigating an increasingly multipolar order.