Vietnam’s government is shifting toward Chinese-style governance and technology as the nation’s most influential leader in decades prepares for a key meeting with Beijing officials this week, according to internal government documents and policy sources.
The Southeast Asian nation and China, both Communist countries, have experienced periods of both tension and partnership throughout history. Currently, Vietnam appears to be moving closer to Beijing’s approach as security officials with pro-China views gain influence under party leader To Lam, who previously headed the public security apparatus.
Lam is scheduled to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday during his inaugural international visit since assuming the state presidency on April 7. This appointment combines two of Vietnam’s highest offices under one person, mirroring Xi’s consolidation of power and departing from Vietnam’s historical preference for shared leadership.
“Vietnam-China relations have entered a new stage, marked by higher political trust, more substantive defence and security cooperation, deeper and more practical cooperation across sectors,” Lam stated in a joint declaration with Xi following their previous meeting in April 2025.
Officials familiar with the visit plans indicate this week’s meetings will produce numerous cooperation agreements. Although these documents often lack binding commitments, the partnership is becoming increasingly concrete, with Chinese exports to Vietnam reaching unprecedented levels and Chinese manufacturing investment across the border experiencing significant growth.
These sources requested anonymity given the delicate nature of the subject matter.
While Vietnam continues to balance its international relationships by maintaining connections with Washington and other partners, domestically it is adopting governance approaches similar to China’s, particularly regarding state control and regulation, despite concerns from Western nations. This demonstrates China’s growing influence as Lam transforms the government structure.
Vietnam employs “a dual approach of actively learning from the Chinese model while selectively resisting its influence,” according to Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute.
Alexander Vuving from the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in the United States warned that strengthening China ties without proper safeguards “will have a negative impact not only on Vietnam’s security, prosperity, and autonomy, but also on its relations with the U.S. and the West.”
Vietnam’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
TECHNOLOGY AND STATE OVERSIGHT
Technology represents one of the most obvious indicators of strengthening relations between the two countries.
Vietnam has abandoned previous reservations about incorporating Chinese equipment into its 5G infrastructure, while the nation’s primary internet service provider FPT has announced investments in an undersea cable project to be constructed by a Chinese contractor that the United States believes is connected to sanctioned telecommunications company Huawei. A telecommunications firm under Vietnam’s public security ministry is negotiating with Chinese companies for additional 5G contracts.
Chinese corporations are simultaneously investigating investment opportunities in Vietnamese data centers, which represent critical infrastructure, according to individuals knowledgeable about these discussions.
“Chinese interest in Vietnam’s data-centre market has increased noticeably over the past 18-24 months,” stated Mickael Driol, who leads investment advisory firm Mekong Partners. He attributed much of this interest to manufacturers who relocated their operations to Vietnam from China.
Hanoi is emphasizing government oversight in data regulation, following China’s approach. Western technology companies and the United States government have consistently expressed concerns about data protection regulations developed by Vietnam’s security ministry that restrict international data transfers.
Internal documents reviewed by Reuters reveal Vietnam’s plans to create government-operated data-trading platforms supervised by the public security ministry, reflecting China’s centralized data approach and expanding the state’s capacity to utilize information for monitoring and strategic objectives. In Western nations, such platforms typically operate under private management.
Vietnam is also expanding a nationwide electronic identification system, allowing officials to identify citizens through artificial intelligence camera networks being deployed across the country, creating another similarity with China’s monitoring infrastructure.
“The police’s rising power (in Vietnam) may partly explain a growing interest in Chinese-style social control tactics,” Giang observed.
FOLLOWING CHINA’S ECONOMIC APPROACH
Without constraints from public sentiment that has become less critical of China, Vietnam’s Communist Party is also implementing a more Chinese-style economic framework focused on subsidies, government investment, and major infrastructure developments, sometimes working directly with Beijing on sensitive projects including high-speed railway connections.
This transformation has been strengthened by TikTok’s widespread use in Vietnam, where favorable content about China frequently appears, and by Hanoi’s increasingly restrained criticism of Beijing’s activities in the contested South China Sea.
Vietnam maintains greater openness to foreign investors compared to China and continues to rely significantly on external funding. However, China’s portion of total investments is increasing, and Chinese products are becoming more popular domestically.
China’s impact is also evident in financial policy. Vietnam uses unconventional monetary strategies such as bank lending requirements similar to China’s approach, maintains strict foreign ownership limits in crucial industries, and is addressing a real estate bubble that resembles China’s situation.
Hanoi is now considering more extensive intervention in stock markets. Proposed actions include a government-supported stabilization fund to purchase shares during market declines, an concept explicitly based on China’s model.
“China created one and succeeded in reassuring investors,” stated an internal security ministry document examined by Reuters.
