Vietnam strengthens public diplomacy to safeguard sovereignty, promote global national image

THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam’s public diplomacy has remained a cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy, safeguarding sovereignty, promoting national image and reinforcing confidence at home and abroad.

With an emphasis on conveying the Party’s and State’s foreign policy, countering distortions and showcasing strategic partnerships, public diplomacy has become a stabilizing and outward-reaching force in the first three quarters of 2025

Institutional reinforcement and media innovation 

On June 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a circular effective from July 1 to clarify the responsibilities of provincial external affairs agencies to ensure consistency, professionalism and accountability nationwide.

The government also approved a comprehensive plan to link public diplomacy activities with major diplomatic anniversaries, allowing ministries and localities to synchronize messages and maximize impact.

On July 31, the Steering Committee for External Information Service held a mid-year review, commending proactive implementation of resolutions and the effective countering of harmful narratives.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held its own mid-year review, highlighting its work in propagating strategic resolutions 57, 59, 66 and 68 and promoting commemorative events.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approved a detailed plan for external relations publicity and diplomatic anniversaries. Accordingly, media products, including documentaries, postcards and films are distributed to Vietnamese embassies in Finland, Hungary, Brunei and Chile, reinforcing soft power abroad.

Vietnam Television on September 7 launched a foreign-language public diplomacy channel, providing a direct platform to communicate Vietnam’s perspectives to global audiences.

In media initiatives, the 11th National Public Diplomacy Awards were launched on June 12 in Hanoi to encourage journalism, broadcasting, photography, books and digital content that carry Vietnam’s message to global audiences.

At the local level, Hanoi and other provinces intensified people-to-people diplomacy through sister-city programs, bilingual publications, cultural festivals and outreach to foreign communities, amplifying national messages at the grassroots.

International engagement

Public diplomacy in the first nine months of 2025 was not limited to media. High-profile visits were typical diplomatic missions, with Party General Secretary To Lam visiting South Korea on August 10-13, the first such state visit in 11 years, underlining cooperation in technology and digital transformation.

Also in August, an additional call with Cambodian Party President Hun Sen reinforced party-level ties and regional harmony.

From August 3 to August 9, President Luong Cuong led a high-level delegation to Egypt and Angola, where he engaged in state diplomacy with wide outreach, addressing Arab League and Angolan Parliament to broaden Vietnam’s presence in Africa and the Middle East.

The latest high-profile visit was that of President Luong Cuong. He attended the General Debate of the 80th UN General Assembly and engaged in bilateral activities with the US from September 21 to 24.

Such visits were matched with cultural diplomacy and diaspora outreach. Engagements with overseas Vietnamese bolstered the national narrative and reinforced bonds across borders.

These missions fed the external information networks and embassies, making diplomacy credible.

Public diplomacy has become vibrant through the people dimension, with cultural exchanges, NGO partnerships and local people-to-people initiatives to enhance mutual understanding and mobilize international support for Vietnam’s development and sovereignty.

For overseas Vietnamese, the strategy emphasizes collecting opinions, maintaining connections, encouraging investment in the homeland and utilizing diaspora networks as bridges for cultural and economic cooperation.

Grassroots diplomacy also matters as local authorities are guided to embed external communication into provincial strategies and community events, ensuring that national messages resonate down to every level.

Through diplomacy, Vietnam has orchestrated its external communication in a unified and mutually reinforcing way.

Vietnam’s 2025 public diplomacy unifies external communication, prioritizing positive messaging, rapid responses, media innovation and tighter coordination, while serving as a bridge of trust and shaping the country’s image globally.