Published: 22 May 2025

Author: Phan Xuan Dung

Vietnam is anxious about the geostrategic implications of upstream Mekong projects in China, Laos, and Cambodia. It faces the dilemma of protecting its vital interests in the Mekong while maintaining stable and cooperative relations with its three neighbours.

Maintaining good relations with China, Laos, and Cambodia is Vietnam’s top foreign policy priority. As land-based neighbours with deep historical and political bonds, these countries play a crucial role in Vietnam’s territorial integrity, economic prosperity, and regime security. Vietnam is also connected to these countries through the Mekong River, a lifeline for millions living in six riparian states (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam). Former Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc once described the Mekong River as a “shared space of co-existence”, reflecting Vietnam’s desire for cooperative transboundary water management. However, in reality, the river has increasingly become a space of conflicting interests and competition.

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