Vietnam rolls out red carpet for Myanmar junta chief in pivot to pragmatism

Vietnam rolled out the red carpet this week for Myanmar’s top general, Min Aung Hlaing, in a visit that underscores Hanoi’s shift from moral posturing to hard-nosed pragmatism in Southeast Asian diplomacy. The trip, the first by the Myanmar junta leader to Vietnam since the 2021 coup, comes as Hanoi deepens economic and security ties with Naypyidaw while other regional powers remain divided over how to engage the isolated military regime. **A quiet break from ASEAN’s tough line** Publicly, Vietnam has joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in calling for an end to violence and a return to civilian rule in Myanmar. But privately, Hanoi has long resisted strong sanctions or expulsion of the junta, wary of alienating a neighbor with shared borders and business interests. Min Aung Hlaing’s meetings with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Vo Van Thuong focused on trade, energy, and defense cooperation, according to state media. No joint statement on Myanmar’s political crisis was released. **Why it matters** Vietnam’s approach reflects a broader trend among ASEAN members like Thailand and Laos, who favor “constructive engagement” over isolation. For Hanoi, the calculus is simple: Myanmar is a market for Vietnamese goods, a source of cheap energy, and a buffer against Chinese influence in the region. Critics argue the visit legitimizes a regime accused of war crimes. But for Vietnam, the optics of the red carpet appear to be a calculated price for strategic advantage. **The bigger picture** Analysts say Vietnam’s move signals a growing split within ASEAN, where consensus on Myanmar has become nearly impossible. As the bloc’s more cautious members watch, Hanoi is betting that engagement, not punishment, will yield long-term influence in a post-conflict Myanmar. No date was given for a return visit, but Vietnamese officials hinted that economic deals signed this week would deepen ties regardless of political change in Myanmar.