Vietnam–Laos ties : strategic cohesion

Vietnam and Laos have scaled up bilateral relations to the highest level of friendship and cooperation, known as « Great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion ». It is a new framework between the two former Indochinese countries. The emphasis is on strategic cohesion.

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam’s state visit early this month to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was not headline news. On the surface, it was a symbolic visit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the LPDR and its strengthened party-to-party relations.

Deep down, the two-day visit was highly significant, which could reshape the sub-regional order in the Mekong region.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung told local media, reiterating that the trip was historic and opened a new chapter in their relations. Judging by the members of the delegation, which included the entire politburo’s members, it carried unusual political weight.

During his visit, Mr Lam had a tight schedule that included attending high-level meetings with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. In addition, he held extensive talks with President Thongloun Sisoulith and met all key Lao leaders.

He also delivered a keynote speech at the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, in which he praised the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party for the hard-won war and reform. « Over the past decades, Laos has kept political stability, improved security and gradually raised living standards. Economic reforms have helped the country move beyond isolation, diversify its economy, and strengthen self-reliance while remaining committed to its chosen development path, » he told the Academy.

Mr Lam also highlighted Vientiane’s growing role in the region and the world, with wider diplomatic ties and deeper regional integration. He emphasised the special Vietnam-Laos relations, noting that the two have shared struggles in all facets of politics, security, the economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Furthermore, he expressed confidence that Laos would continue to overcome challenges and develop steadily in the coming years. Vietnam, he added, was committed to supporting and preserving this long-standing partnership.

The visit also coincided with the 105th birth anniversary of President Kaysone Phomvihane, who forged early relations between the two parties. It must be noted here that the two countries share more commonalities as comrades in the former Indochinese countries than any other in mainland Southeast Asia.

More importantly, having all the politburo members travel to Laos demonstrated their determination to strengthen institutional cooperation. The agreement, which affirms « strategic cohesion », ties will serve the highest decision-making organs of both nations.

As such, Vietnam and Laos would synergise or converge wherever possible. The new alignment will allow both sides to enjoy closer cooperation through early consultation and policy planning. Strengthening cooperation in all concerned agencies. One area that has been highlighted is the intensified cooperation between border provinces.

Amid the geopolitical shifts, the Vietnamese and Lao leaders want to ensure that their relations are predictable and sustainable. In short, both parties are now strengthening both ideological solidarity and functional integration.

From the lens of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Vietnam-Laos ties are rather special as they are more comprehensive than the conventional strategic partnerships practised in the bloc. It signals how deeply Vietnam and Laos intend to align at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and internal constraints within the region.

For Asean, the consolidation of Vietnam–Laos strategic cohesion offers reassurance but also raises challenges. On one hand, it creates a stable and predictable political axis in mainland Southeast Asia, reducing the risk of sudden policy shifts along Vietnam’s western flank. On the other hand, it highlights the growing importance of sub-regional alignments operating beneath Asean’s consensus-driven framework.

In contrast, the dynamics of Vietnam–Cambodia relations have changed.

While Hanoi and Vientiane are institutionalising strategic convergence, Hanoi and Phnom Penh have been drifting apart, pursuing their strategic autonomy and separate development path. Both are active in engaging with Western countries as never before. But there is a dilemma as they do not know what the future challenges may lie which could be emanating within the domestic domains.

For instance, the proposed Tonle Bassac Navigation Road and Logistics System Project (Funan Techo Canal) has remained a bone of contention between the two countries. Cambodia reiterated that the canal will not harm the Mekong and its water system. Instead, it will stimulate investment and improve transportation efficiency.

However, Vietnam’s concerns are focused on changed water flows during the wet season that could increase saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta. This will cause potential disruption to downstream ecosystems and environmental consequences for coastal areas, including around Phu Quoc. It is an open secret that these risks increase and add further significance as the island has been designated the venue of the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2027.

In this context, Vietnam–Laos strategic cohesion should be welcomed as it would serve as a stabilising response to uncertainty. Obviously, the two countries prefer continuity and predictability in their relations and cooperation.

It remains to be seen how this new pattern of cooperation will play out in mainland Southeast Asia and Asean at large.

Due to the Thailand-Cambodia crisis, Asean is on high alert that the stability in the region increasingly hinges on the overall relations and interactions of its members bilaterally and multilaterally. Therefore, the bloc must be mindful that there could be a gap between cohesive neighbours and in consensus-based decision-making processes. Its main task is to support and ensure that they align with the Asean Community Vision 2045.

By Kavi Chongkittavorn – Bangkok Post – December 16, 2025