1 Introduction

The geopolitical and economic status of Southeast Asia has been elevated, and ASEAN plays a core role in regional peace, stability, and economic development. Vietnam's accession to ASEAN in 1995 marked a significant turning point in foreign policy, transitioning from a peripheral participant to an institutional shaper. Vietnam actively participates in the construction of the ASEAN political security and economic community, achieving a transformation from an outsider to an important member. This article analyzes the development process of Vietnam ASEAN relations from 1995 to 2025, explores the key areas and characteristics of cooperation between the two sides, and how Vietnam can break through its role limitations, from normative learning to rule output. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN, reviewing and looking forward to this relationship will help analyze Vietnam's strategy of balancing major power relations and safeguarding national interests within the ASEAN framework, grasp Vietnam's foreign policy trends, deepen understanding of cooperation in Southeast Asia, and provide reference for countries in the global South to participate in regional governance.

The starting point of integration: tracing the history of Vietnam ASEAN relations

Vietnam has a long history of relations with Southeast Asian countries, and its geographical location and historical background make it a bridge between East Asia and Southeast Asia. Vietnam has close ties with Southeast Asian countries in terms of politics, economy, and culture. Throughout history, it has had multiple political interactions with countries in the Indochina Peninsula, and its economic and trade routes have made it a trade hub while preserving local cultural elements of Southeast Asia and being influenced by Indian civilization. During the Cold War, the relationship between Vietnam and ASEAN underwent a transition from confrontation to contact. After Vietnam's reunification in 1975, its relationship with ASEAN went through three stages: brief contact, resumption of confrontation, and renewed contact. Vietnam's military actions against Cambodia have led to tension in relations with ASEAN, but with the shift in Vietnam's foreign policy and the resolution of the Cambodian issue, the relationship between the two sides has gradually eased. The reasons for Vietnam's active integration into ASEAN include the transformation of political and diplomatic concepts, security reasons, and economic reasons. Vietnam hopes to strengthen security cooperation with ASEAN member countries by joining ASEAN, enhance its voice in regional security affairs, and expand economic cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, utilizing ASEAN's funds and technology to achieve national economic takeoff. In 1995, Vietnam officially became the seventh member state of the ASEAN organization, ushering in a new stage of integration into ASEAN.

From Integration to Transcendence: The Evolutionary Path of Vietnam ASEAN Relations

Since Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, its relationship with ASEAN has gone through three stages: initial adaptation period, deepening cooperation period, and comprehensive deepening period. In the initial adaptation period, Vietnam repositioned its regional identity, adjusted its foreign policy framework, actively participated in the ASEAN meeting mechanism, promoted Cambodia's accession to ASEAN, and carried out foreign economic cooperation based on the ASEAN platform in the economic field, joining the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), implementing the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Agreement (CEPT) of the ASEAN Free Trade Area, and promoting economic integration. During the period of deepening cooperation, Vietnam internalized the ASEAN mechanism and transformed from a "system learner" to an "agenda leader". For the first time, it served as the rotating chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee and ASEAN Regional Forum, promoting the construction of the ASEAN community, strengthening economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN countries, achieving tariff reductions, and joining the WTO and ASEAN Economic Community. In the field of security, Vietnam has strengthened regional security cooperation, achieved new breakthroughs in multilateral security cooperation, served as the rotating chairman of the ASEAN Regional Forum, and promoted the establishment of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Expanded Meeting. Entering a period of comprehensive deepening, Vietnam has demonstrated distinct characteristics in its foreign relations, implementing a balanced diplomatic strategy, utilizing the ASEAN framework to promote collective action in regional affairs, transforming from an "agenda leader" to an "institutional shaper", deeply participating in the ASEAN construction process, effectively utilizing institutional power, and demonstrating the unique foreign strategy of a medium-sized country. Vietnam has adjusted its foreign policy, promoted regional economic integration, institutionalized security cooperation within the ASEAN framework, and gradually increased its influence in ASEAN, becoming an important case of geopolitical transformation in Southeast Asia.

4 Conclusion

Since Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, its role in ASEAN has gone through three stages: institutional adaptation, institutional internalization, and institutional shaping. Over the past thirty years, cooperation between Vietnam and ASEAN has deepened in areas such as economy and security. Vietnam's role and status in ASEAN have gradually increased, becoming an important force in promoting regional stability and development as well as ASEAN integration. Vietnam has achieved a transition from a "peripheral participant" to an "agenda leader" and then to an "institutional shaper" by strategically utilizing its institutional power through structured transformation of foreign policy, integration of economic institutionalization, and cooperation in security mechanisms. Faced with the situation of major power games in the region, it will become increasingly difficult for Vietnam to balance its national interests with regional consensus, and the Vietnam ASEAN relationship will also face some tension. However, Vietnam's trend of actively integrating into ASEAN and utilizing regional mechanisms will not change. Vietnam and ASEAN need to jointly cope with the institutionalized impact of the great power game and seek development and transformation opportunities as a more promising Southeast Asian community. The loosening of the world hegemonic order provides an opportunity for medium-sized countries to use institutional power to transform regional mechanisms into a pivot for reshaping order. If Vietnam can continue to play its normative role as an ASEAN member state, unite and assist with other ASEAN member states, build consensus, and promote ASEAN's transition from a "regional order leading mechanism" to a "cross system connectivity platform" on the basis of adhering to the "ASEAN centrality", Vietnam is expected to provide a possible paradigm for other medium-sized countries to achieve identity transition through institutional power application in structural constraints, and successfully participate in regional and global governance.