Putin in Vietnam: An old friendship that refuses to die

Jonathan Head, a correspondent for the BBC News in South East Asia, wrote a section for the blog.

The leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has landed in Hanoi, Vietnam for the second destination of his trip in East Asia.

After his grand visit to North Korea, the excursion is deemed as a display of diplomatic backing that Russia still holds in the area.

The United States has expressed disapproval of the trip, citing concerns that it might provide an opportunity for President Putin to publicize his violent actions in Ukraine.

While enhancing its connections with Europe and the United States, Vietnam continues to place great importance on its historical relationship with Russia.

Hovering above a petite park located in Ba Dinh, which is the political region of Hanoi, a sculpture of Lenin, the Russian revolutionary, can be observed standing in a mighty stance with a height of five meters. Annually, on his date of birth, a team of high-level officials from Vietnam visit the statue in a contemplative manner, paying tribute to the sculpture which was contributed by Russia in the past, when it was still recognized as the Soviet Union.

The relationship between Vietnam and Russia is strong and has been established for several decades. The Soviet Union played a crucial role in providing military, economic, and diplomatic assistance to North Vietnam when it became a communist state in the 1950s.

Vietnam has expressed their strong bond as being one of faithfulness and appreciation. Following their intervention in Cambodia to overthrow the inhumane Khmer Rouge government in 1978, Vietnam was met with seclusion and penalties from China and western countries. As a result, they relied heavily on support from the Soviet Union. Numerous elder Vietnamese officials, including Nguyen Phu Trong - an esteemed leader of the communist party, received their education in Russia and became fluent in their language.

Nowadays, Vietnam has experienced a significant change in its economy due to its involvement in worldwide markets. While Russia has lagged behind in comparison to China, Asia, the United States, and Europe as a trade associate, Vietnam still heavily relies on Russian-produced military gear and works together with Russian oil enterprises to explore oil in the South China Sea.

Vietnam was faced with a diplomatic problem when Ukraine was invaded, but they have managed to handle it successfully thus far. They decided not to take a stance on the different United Nations resolutions that condemn Russia's actions, but they still made sure to keep their relationship with Ukraine positive. Additionally, Vietnam also provided some assistance to Kyiv. The two countries have something in common - they both have a history with the Soviet Union. Many Vietnamese people have studied and worked in Ukraine throughout the years.

Vietnam has always followed a foreign policy that emphasizes keeping friendly relations with everyone while steering clear of forming formal alliances. Currently, the communist party leaders refer to this as 'bamboo diplomacy', meaning that they are able to adapt to the shifting winds of power rivalry between major nations without having to choose sides.

This is why Vietnam has quickly improved its relationship with the US, despite having fought against them in a harmful war in the past. This decision was made in order to expand opportunities for profitable exports and to maintain a balance with their large neighboring country, China.

The United States has expressed opposition to President Putin's visit to Vietnam, arguing that it hampers global attempts to isolate him. However, this reaction is not unexpected. Aside from the unique historical relations between Russia and Vietnam, public opinion in Vietnam towards the conflict in Ukraine is more uncertain than in Europe.

People are somewhat impressed by Putin for his authoritative nature in opposing the Western world. However, there are doubts amongst some individuals, partly influenced by the opinions shared on social media, towards the US and European's assertion of defending global regulations.

The conflict in Ukraine is considered distant by many Asian countries, similar to Vietnam. Even in Thailand, a former military supporter of the US against Russia during the Cold War era, opinions among the public are divided. Thais have a deep appreciation for the historical connections between their monarchy and the pre-revolutionary Tsars of Russia, and the Thai government maintains a close connection with Russia, as millions of Russians contribute to their flourishing tourist industry.

It is uncertain for how much longer Vietnam will remain friendly with Vladimir Putin. Vietnam is currently searching for other places to buy military equipment from, but it will take a long time for them to become self-reliant and not have to rely on Russia anymore.

Recently, there have been a number of important people leaving the communist party, indicating that there may be strong disagreements within the group over who will become the next leaders and what direction the country should go in. However, there hasn't been any talk of giving up on the idea of being friendly to everyone and not having any enemies.