2025 Vietnam Update gives overview of key political and economic developments

Organisers and invited speakers at the 2025 Vietnam Update
Organisers and invited speakers at the 2025 Vietnam Update

 

The Australian National University has an enduring connection to Vietnam. Many Vietnamese alumni of the Crawford School of Public Policy have made important contributions to the country's development. A delegation from the Crawford School will be visiting Vietnam later in 2025 to meet with these alumni to celebrate their success and to further foster connections with our Vietnamese institutional partners.

In 2025, Vietnam stands at a pivotal juncture in its development, navigating complex global dynamics and ambitious domestic reforms. Internationally, Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by the US's trade tariffs, although active negotiations are underway. At home, the ruling party is embarking on broad structural reforms under a new guiding slogan, 'The Era of Rising', aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and driving ambitious economic growth. These reforms include efforts to streamline ministries and ministerial committees at the central level, explore the merging of provinces, and review the structure of districts and communes with a view to possible consolidation.

Against this backdrop, the Crawford School of Public Policy's annual Vietnam Update event was held on Friday, 8 August 2025, providing a forum for Vietnam experts to discuss what is driving these changes and what they could mean for the country’s future.

Attendees were briefed on the significant domestic political and economic reforms Vietnam has undertaken and on what growing global uncertainty may bring for Vietnam's external trade, the economy, and the environment in the near term.

In particular, the challenges Vietnam is facing from the Trump Administration's new tariff regime were examined in depth.

We'd like to thank the following speakers for presenting their insights at the 2025 Vietnam Update:

  • Ms. Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (and former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam) for opening the event.

  • Special guest speaker Emeritus Professor Carlyle Thayer of UNSW for his presentation on Vietnam's political reforms.

  • Our speakers from the ANU Hub for Vietnam Policy Studies, Professor Long Chu, Dr Mai Nguyen, Dr Dr. Thang Nam Do, and Dr Lien Le.

In 2026, the Crawford School will be hosting a special event to mark the 40th anniversary of Vietnam's pivotal 1986 Đổi mới economic reforms, which moved the country from a centrally planned– to a market–oriented economy. We hope to see you at next year's Vietnam Update.