Organizer: Vietnam Studies Program, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

Type/Location: Virtual

Description:

On July 28, 1995, Vietnam officially became the seventh member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), marking a significant milestone in Vietnam’s foreign policy during the Doi Moi era and signalling a major transformation in inter-state relations among Southeast Asian countries in the post-Cold War order. This webinar celebrates Vietnam’s transformative journey within ASEAN, reflecting on its contributions to regional cooperation and economic integration over the past 30 years. The session will also examine the evolution of Vietnam’s approach to ASEAN—from initial scepticism to its current proactive engagement—and assess how ASEAN has featured in Vietnam’s foreign policy. The session will conclude with a discussion of how Vietnam views ASEAN’s role amid current geopolitical shifts and in shaping its long-term global outlook.

About the Speakers:

Dr. Nguyen Vu Tung served as President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam from 2016 to 2020, where he also held the positions of Vice President, Director General of the Institute for East Sea Studies, and Director General of the Institute for Strategic and Foreign Policy Studies. Both a scholar and a seasoned diplomat, Dr. Tung was also Vietnam’s Ambassador to South Korea (2020–2023) and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Vietnamese Embassy in the United States (2010–2014). He has published extensively in international academic journals and is the author of Flying Blind: Vietnam’s Decision to Join ASEAN (2021). Dr. Tung holds an MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a PhD in Political Science from Columbia University.

Hoang Thi Ha is Senior Fellow and Co-coordinator of the Regional Strategic and Political Studies Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Her research focuses on major power engagement in Southeast Asia, political-security dynamics within ASEAN, and Vietnam’s foreign policy. Prior to her current role, she served as a diplomat at the ASEAN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam (2004–2007) and later as Assistant Director, Head of the Political Cooperation Division at the ASEAN Secretariat (2007–2016). Ms Hoang holds an MA in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

Registration:

To attend the event online, please register here.