Vietnam was officially recognised as a partner country of BRICS in June 2025, joining the ranks of Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. This development highlights Hanoi’s ongoing effort to strengthen its global integration strategy by pursuing a broader range of diplomatic and economic alliances. It also underscores the country’s commitment to multilateralism.

As Vietnam strengthens ties with emerging economies worldwide, its association with BRICS reflects its multilateral priorities and growing international presence. For international investors and businesses, this moment marks a critical phase in Vietnam’s deepening global engagement and rising role in South-South cooperation.

Why Vietnam’s Partnership Matters

There are nine official partner nations: Vietnam, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

Vietnam’s inclusion as a BRICS partner aligns with its aim to elevate its standing in international platforms and enhance cooperation with the Global South. With a population nearing 100 million and a robust export-led economy, Vietnam provides BRICS with a dependable Southeast Asian ally well integrated into global production networks.

The partnership supports shared goals such as inclusive growth, sustainable development, and diversified cooperation. Brazil, currently chairing BRICS, has recognised Vietnam’s valuable contribution to South-South collaboration and its strategic importance in Asia.

Crucially, Vietnam’s ties with BRICS do not come at the expense of existing partnerships. As Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed at the Kazan Summit, Vietnam remains committed to its independent, multilateral, and constructive foreign policy, maintaining strong links with the US, EU, and ASEAN.

Vietnam’s Economic Value to BRICS and Beyond

Vietnam is a compelling prospect for both BRICS members and global investors, offering consistent economic growth, supportive investment policies, and integration into global trade systems. Over the last ten years, the nation has demonstrated economic resilience, with steady GDP growth, low inflation, and sound fiscal discipline, boosting investor confidence.

As a key manufacturing hub, Vietnam serves a wide range of sectors including electronics, textiles, renewable energy, and semiconductors. It has become an attractive option for firms seeking more resilient supply chains and efficient regional production. Infrastructure upgrades and trade agreement participation further strengthen its competitive edge.

The government continues to foster diverse partnerships while advancing governance reforms, enhancing transparency, and accelerating digital transformation. These priorities resonate with BRICS’s long-term development agenda and appeal to investors looking for sustainable returns. Vietnam represents a dynamic model of development through strategic diplomacy and market-led policies.

Participation in BRICS also opens access to multilateral funding sources, such as the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, which could support critical infrastructure, energy, and digital transformation projects.

There are also substantial opportunities for cross-border private ventures in sectors like advanced manufacturing, agri-tech, digital services, and logistics. BRICS member states offer complementary strengths, including industrial know-how, access to natural resources, and expanded markets that match Vietnam’s economic objectives.

On the policy front, Vietnam’s involvement allows it to influence investment norms that favour transparency, sustainability, and shared prosperity—positioning itself as both a recipient and a contributor to future cooperation models.

A Balanced Approach to Global Diplomacy

Vietnam’s engagement with BRICS is part of its wider foreign policy approach, which emphasises diversification, non-alignment, and constructive multilateralism. Rather than aligning too closely with any one bloc, Hanoi adopts a flexible and adaptive strategy—often dubbed “bamboo diplomacy”—that safeguards national interests while advancing economic goals.

This partnership enhances, rather than undermines, Vietnam’s ties with Western partners. The country remains actively involved in several international agreements, including the CPTPP, RCEP, and the IPEF, signalling its desire to help shape a fairer, multipolar global order that reflects the priorities of developing nations.

At the same time, Vietnam navigates a complex regional landscape with a commitment to stability and pragmatic engagement. Its BRICS involvement is a forward-looking step aimed at diversifying its alliances and increasing resilience in a fast-changing international environment.

Written by: 

Dr Iqbal Survé

Past chairman of the BRICS Business Council and co-chairman of the BRICS Media Forum and the BRNN

*Cole Jackson

Lead Associate at BRICS+ Consulting Group

Chinese & South American Specialist

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