Hung Cao’s Vietnam visit and the art of psychological diplomacy

The visit of Hung Cao, a high-ranking official in the Trump administration who fled Vietnam as a child in 1975, highlights a deliberate shift in how Hanoi interacts with its diaspora and the broader American political establishment. Rather than navigating the rigid protocols of traditional state-to-state diplomacy, Vietnam engaged Cao through a lens of reconciliation. By hosting him in his dual capacity as a U.S. official and a member of the Vietnamese community, officials effectively bypassed historical friction to focus on the country’s current rapid modernization.

This approach mirrors the "bamboo diplomacy" doctrine, which combines steadfast principles with flexible, inclusive methods. For Cao, the experience—including a poignant return to his family's roots in Quang Tri—served as a catalyst for shifting perceptions. By prioritizing humanitarian cooperation, such as ongoing efforts to address war-era legacies, Vietnam has successfully transformed former adversaries into strategic partners. The visit underscores a broader evolution in Vietnamese foreign policy: moving beyond government-level dialogue to build influence through empathy, cultural identity, and the tangible reality of a nation’s development.