Vietnam’s Cultural Diplomacy in the Context of International Integration (2009–2025)

Cultural diplomacy has increasingly become an important instrument of soft power, contributing to the promotion of national image, the consolidation of foreign-policy standing and the advancement of international cooperation. Against the background of deepening international integration, Vietnam has gradually established cultural diplomacy as one of the pillars of its comprehensive diplomacy and has undertaken a wide range of activities designed to disseminate national identity, intensify international exchange and enhance national attractiveness. This article analyses the development of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy between 2009 and 2025 on the basis of a study of policies, official guidelines and practical activities in the fields of cultural promotion, heritage conservation and valorisation, international cultural exchange and multilateral cooperation. It also compares the cultural diplomacy experiences of several Asian countries, namely South Korea, China and India, and gives particular emphasis to India’s yoga diplomacy as an exemplary model of transforming traditional cultural values into a soft-power resource with global reach. On this basis, the article proposes a number of orientations for improving the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy, strengthening soft power and enhancing Vietnam’s national brand positioning in the coming period.