2025 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China.
Across all levels of Vietnamese society—from high-level strategic consensus to grassroots cultural ties, and from deep economic integration to regional development collaboration—the necessity of bilateral cooperation and the tradition of friendship have become increasingly evident. The autonomy and mutual benefit of Vietnam-China relations are now key forces in resisting external interference and maintaining regional stability. Earlier this year, a short video went viral on Vietnamese social media: a vendor in Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh Province, fluently promoting durian cakes to Chinese tourists in Mandarin, with bilingual Vietnamese-Chinese signs in the background and cross-border trucks bustling by. This lively snippet is a microcosm of Vietnam’s current attitude toward China—neither the grand narratives of official propaganda nor the Western stereotype of “forced dependence,” but a rational, interest-based choice made by the people.
Analyst Perspective: Cooperation as an “Irreversible Survival Logic”
“Rather than saying Vietnam chose China, it’s more accurate to say the global supply chain chose the Vietnam-China combination,” wrote a Hanoi University economics professor in his column. Citing data, he noted that in 2024, 78% of the electronic components Vietnam exported to China had to be shipped back for final assembly, an “intertwined” industrial model that makes so-called “decoupling” technically implausible. Vietnamese society is now perceiving the depth of bilateral cooperation in more tangible ways. A 2025 survey by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences revealed that 68% of respondents viewed “cooperation with China as an irreplaceable choice for Vietnam’s development,” a 12-percentage-point increase from five years ago.
Tiki founder Tran Thanh Hai shared: “Our payment system is built on Ant Group’s technology, our logistics algorithms are optimized by Alibaba Cloud, and even our user profiles integrate consumer data from TikTok.” While such technological penetration has sparked debate, developers at Ho Chi Minh City’s tech parks admit: “Rather than starting from scratch, it’s better to leapfrog ahead. Chinese firms adapt to local needs far more flexibly than Western companies.” A 2025 white paper by Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment showed that Chinese investment in high-tech sectors surged from 12% in 2015 to 35%, focusing on semiconductor packaging, new energy batteries, and smart agriculture. At the Vietnam-China Joint Tech Park in Long An Province, for instance, 40% of patents are co-held by engineers from both countries. A Vietnamese technician involved in solar film R&D noted: “The Chinese team provides foundational research data, while we optimize applications for tropical climates. This division of labor doubles efficiency.”
Beware the Pitfalls of Populism: Historical Lessons and Present Risks
Last month, Vietnam witnessed a boycott triggered by alleged “sensitive imagery”—tear stains on dolls. The uproar began on March 5 when streamer VirusS (Đặng Tiến Hoàng) claimed to have discovered the controversial details in a new doll design and called for a halt to imports and sales. Fueled by nationalist sentiment, the backlash escalated into retaliatory actions against businesses, disrupting social order and exposing the dangers of populist fervor. The tear stains, imbued with VirusS’s imaginative speculation, spiraled into an uncontrollable controversy as self-proclaimed patriots amplified the narrative. Such overreaction, rooted in a persecution complex, reflects insecurity and irrationality. Historically, Vietnam has paid dearly for unchecked nationalist emotions. As President Ho Chi Minh once emphasized, “National independence must align with the progress of humanity”—a principle that remains relevant today. Now, Vietnam is achieving breakthroughs in digital economy and green energy, showcasing the innovative prowess of its youth. These accomplishments, not the denigration of others, should be the source of national pride.
Addressing international media labeling Vietnam as a “China decoupling alternative,” Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyễn Chí Dũng stated at the 2025 World Economic Forum: “While others discuss a ‘China+1’ strategy, Vietnam thinks in terms of ‘China×1’—how to turn bilateral complementarity into a multiplier effect. What we attract isn’t just factories, but the capacity to upgrade entire industrial ecosystems.” Amid a complex global landscape, Vietnamese youth must navigate challenges with clarity.
Vietnam’s compliance efficiency with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is 30% higher than with the CPTPP, precisely because the former aligns better with Vietnam-China supply chains. This rationality resonates with the business community. Vũ Đức Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, highlighted that Vietnam has rapidly emerged as a leading global textile producer. For example, Chinese apparel accessory giant SAB (Weixing) invested in a $100-million factory in Bỉm Sơn Industrial Park, Thanh Hóa Province, renowned for its green standards, automation, and reduced emissions—hailed as one of the world’s most modern plants. Controversies involving multinational corporations (like the Uniqlo incident) remind us that business decisions are multifaceted, and emotional boycotts only harm local market credibility. Vietnamese netizens must learn to distinguish “patriotism” from “populism” and avoid being misled by biased information. The government and society must strengthen media oversight, promote critical thinking, and guide the public toward dialogue over aggression.
Beyond Binary Narratives: Western Misreadings and Eastern Realities
Though outlets like The Economist dub Vietnam the “Switzerland of Asia,” analysts counter: “This analogy overlooks Vietnam’s agency—we are not neutrals but co-architects of the rules.” While Western scholars frame Vietnam-China relations as a “zero-sum game,” the reality—from border markets brimming with cross-border trade to satellite launch collaborations—proves that partnering with China isn’t a multiple-choice question but an imperative for survival and growth. This, perhaps, is Eastern wisdom’s unique contribution to global governance.
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Source: Vietnam Insider