Khac Giang

How Is Vietnam Navigating the New Trade War Era? Can Vietnam adapt its economic model to this era of geopolitical fragmentation – or will it become collateral damage in someone else’s trade war?

In my long read for the Diplomat, I explore how Hanoi is balancing tariffs, China, and domestic reform in a world breaking apart. Have a read:

thediplomat.com/2025/07/how-...

2025/50 “Grooming New Champions: To Lam Prepares for Private Sector-Led Growth in Vietnam” by Nguyen Khac Giang In May 2025, the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) under the leadership of General Secretary To Lam adopted Resolution 68 on the development of the private sector, marking a dramatic p...

Vietnam is pivoting to the private sector. My latest ISEAS
research explores To Lam’s bold plan, the rise of Vietnamese “chaebols,” and the risks of crony capitalism. Big bets, big stakes.
www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-com...

Mending Fences: Vietnam and Cambodia’s Diplomatic Reset | FULCRUM The Ho Chi Minh City Summit signals a pragmatic reset in Vietnam-Cambodia relations, driven by economic interests rather than ideology. Successful cooperation would bring the added advantage of enh…

My take on VN-Cambodia diplomatic reset. Make sense for both in the new era of great powers' uncertainty.
fulcrum.sg/mending-fenc...

I suppose as a small/middle-sized country, VN is concerned with the future implications of the Russian invasion, although their deep tie with Moscow deters Hanoi from publicly denouncing it.

Funny that China and VN, both are seen as very close partners of Putin's Russia, abstained.

2025/14 “Vietnam’s Bureaucratic Reforms: Opportunities and Challenges in “The Era of National Rise”” by Nguyen Khac Giang Vietnam is undertaking its most ambitious bureaucratic restructuring since the 1986 Doi Moi reforms began, with plans to merge ministries, streamline agencies, and reorganise party institutions at an ...

Vietnam is on the cusp of its most ambitious bureaucratic overhaul since the 1986 Doi Moi reforms. In my latest Perspective, I examine the opportunities and challenges this bold initiative might bring to VN, as well as its implications for the upcoming 2026 Congress.
www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-com...

Thanks! It seems Hanoi authorities care abt this but they apparently haven't offered any viable alternatives either. Will need more than just an iron hand.

‘Airpocalypse’ Now: Vietnam at Crossroads of Progress and Pollution | FULCRUM Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, is ranked as one of the world’s most polluted cities in 2025. This dubious honour highlights the country’s need to balance rapid economic development with preserving the e…

Must Vietnam's economic ascent come with Beijing's former smog? In my latest commentary, I examine how the country could sidestep China's environmental struggles while maintaining its economic momentum.
fulcrum.sg/airpocalypse...

I'm close!

2024/103 “Understanding the Rise and Rise of Online Nationalism in Vietnam” by Dien Nguyen An Luong and Nguyen Khac Giang Since 2016, Vietnam’s approach to online nationalism has evolved from reactive responses and sovereignty disputes into a sophisticated system of digital influence operations.

My new work on the rise of online nationalism in Vietnam, co-authored with Dien Luong.

Fruits of spoil: Laos' forests disappearing as fruit farms flourish The country’s improved railway connectivity facilitates fruit exports to China but has also sparked a boom in foreign-owned banana and durian farms, leading to forest clearance

An excellent investigation into how Chinese investments, high-speed rail projects, geopolitics, and government complacency have transformed Laos into a banana (and durian) republic, with devastating environmental consequences.

www.mekongeye.com/2024/12/16/f...

The Year in Vietnamese Politics The Vietnam Weekly Podcast · Episode

Reflecting on an unprecedented year in Vietnamese politics on the Vietnam Weekly Podcast with Michael Tatarski. Listen here:
open.spotify.com/episode/6vnJ...

Syria latest: International community seeks stability after Assad overthrow The US, Russia and other major powers react to the momentous events in Damascus on Sunday.

Horrifying. ‘Authorities in Damascus…issued an appeal to those who used to work at the prison to supply the rebel forces with codes to underground electronic doors…"more than 100,000 detainees who can be seen on CCTV monitors"…’ www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cj...

Syria latest: Syrians celebrate Bashar Assad's fall as his whereabouts remain unknown It was the first time opposition forces had reached Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured areas on the outskirts of the capital following a yearslong siege.

Asked if Assad was heading to the UAE, Gargash said: “When people ask where is Bashar al-Assad going to, I say, you know, when you really look at this, this is … a footnote in history. I’m reminded a little bit by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918 … long exile.” apnews.com/article/isra...

🚨 Breaking: Assad’s government has fallen, and he has fled Damascus.

Sending thoughts and prayers to Tulsi Gabbard in this difficult time for her.

Soviet Mathematics and Economic Theory in the Past Century: A Historical Reappraisal (December 2024) - What are the effects of authoritarian regimes on scholarly research in economics? And how might economic theory survive ideological pressures? This article addresses these questions ...

Ooh, look at this paper in the JEL.

For all you Red Plenty fans.

the South Korean presidential system can be difficult for Americans to understand. Presidents can only serve a single five-year term, but their prison sentences vary in length.

Vietnam court may commute tycoon's death sentences if she repays $11 billion A court in Vietnam has upheld the death sentence for real estate tycoon Truong My Lan but said it could be commuted to life if she reimburses some $11 billion.

Quoted on this AP news article about the death sentencing of Vietnam's once most powerful businesswoman.
apnews.com/article/viet...

Is Hanoi quietly building Asean alliances on South China Sea code of conduct? Diplomatic upgrade with Kuala Lumpur could lead to a more united front from claimant countries in their dispute with Beijing, analysts say.

"Despite their own overlapping claims, Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur recognise that a fragmented Asean only benefits those who wish to dominate the South China Sea,” my comment for SCMP.
www.scmp.com/news/china/d...

It’s Complicated? Cambodia-Vietnam Relations Examined | FULCRUM Fulcrum editor Julia Lau discusses the complex issue of Cambodia-Vietnam relations in light of their new leadership. One issue examined is Cambodia’s recent withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-…

Did a podcast with Sophal Ear and Julia Lau discussing Cambodia-Vietnam relations in light of their new leadership. One issue examined is Cambodia's recent withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area and what it means for the region.
fulcrum.sg/its-complica...

📖 To celebrate the migration to Bluesky I will put everyone who reposts this before Dec 2nd into a random drawing & send the winner a free paperback copy of my 2021 book Making the World Safe for Dictatorship anywhere they happen to be in the world. 📖

Climbers (part one): A way out of China Drum Tower · Episode

This year I spent months reporting in Colombia, Mexico, and California, following Chinese migrants hoping to seek asylum in the US. It's a route that's become known as 走线. We made a 4-part podcast series about their journey. The first episode is free this week: open.spotify.com/episode/0vTt...

Vietnam, China and Rerouting: When Perceptions Matter as Much as Reality | FULCRUM Vietnam’s growing trade surplus with the US strongly suggests that China uses Vietnam as a backdoor to dodge US tariffs. Such rerouting is actually lower than is imagined. Given that perceptions dr…

Does Vietnam have a trade rerouting problem? My new article for Fulcrum examines why and how Vietnam's soaring trade surplus with the US has raised suspicions, what the evidence really shows, and why perception matters more than reality in trade politics.
fulcrum.sg/vietnam-chin...

In my starter pack for think tanks on foreign policy, security and defence I have included a bunch of new orgs today. Don’t forget to follow my favourites @csds.bsky.social and @rielcano.bsky.social!

go.bsky.app/6xHtKYe

Vietnam Takes ‘Unprecedented’ Disciplinary Action Over Graft Vietnam’s Politburo has issued a disciplinary “warning” to former parliament chairman Vuong Dinh Hue for violating anti-corruption regulations, underscoring the ruling Communist Party’s determination ...

Yet another "new normal" in Vietnamese politics these days as a former 'Four Pillars' leader faces official discipline for the first time - potentially setting the stage for prosecution of a former PM. My comment for Bloomberg.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Hey folks, I put together a start pack of people who work on the development of political parties/elections and the implications for democracy.

go.bsky.app/JCTFeYq

Created a starter pack for social scientists on Bluesky who work on Southeast Asia. Please let me know if you'd like to be added/have a suggestion for someone you know that I've missed! go.bsky.app/Rzj3ND9

'Ăn gió nằm sương' rà mìn chiến tranh biên giới phía Bắc Những người lính công binh với dao phát, xẻng, thuốn sắt rà đất, gỡ từng quả mìn còn sót lại sau ngày biên giới Việt - Trung ngưng tiếng pháo.

After 2019, VN media has skirted deep dives into the 1979 CN-VN border war anniversary. This VnE article subtly revisits it by showing a grim legacy: in Ha Giang alone, only 12,230 of 77,900 ha of mined areas have been cleared in 45 years.
vnexpress.net/an-gio-nam-s...

My comment on Gensec Trong's recent health rumour. I argue that this 'scare' once again underscores the need for the VCP and Gensec Trong to expedite the institutionalization of succession politics.
fulcrum.sg/feigning-dea...

My review of key developments in the Mekong region in 2023. Most countries struggle economically and politically but maintain a delicate geopolitical balance. www.eastasiaforum.org/2024/01/09/t...