The Russian Journal of Vietnamese Studies

The article examines the cooperation and relations between the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the contemporary period. The study aims to highlight the pressing issues and trends in the relationships of South and North Korea with Vietnam, considering the similarities and differences in their foreign policies, economic structures, regional perspectives, and the interactions between their respective leaders. It presents the historical development of their dialogue frameworks, current directions of political and economic collaboration, and distinctive views on the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region. The analysis of bilateral relations between the ROK and the SRV shows that these countries are key Asian partners in economics, trade, and investments. The Republic of Korea holds leading positions in direct investments in Vietnam, while Vietnam plays a significant role for the ROK within the ASEAN region and the Indo-Pacific strategy. Mutual state visits in 2023–2025 have confirmed the dynamic development of their relations, further strengthened by the elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. The DPRK and SRV remain among the last communist states in the world. Despite their historically similar paths, relations between them have transformed in the 21st century. In the complex regional environment, the leaders of the DPRK and SRV strive to strengthen traditional ties, find common ground, and preserve the national characteristics of their cooperation. This issue is particularly salient in the context of Vietnam–South Korea relations. As the two countries have elevated their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, they have committed to mutual support on their respective core security concerns. For Vietnam, this primarily involves the territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea; for South Korea, the enduring tensions with North Korea remain central. Accordingly, the Republic of Korea and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam - two prominent “Asian Tigers” - may, in the medium term, emerge as a regional tandem in the Asia-Pacific, capable of contributing significantly to the architecture of collective security in the region.

This article examines Vietnam’s government policy in the rare earth metals (REM) sector. Vietnam holds some of the world’s largest REM reserves and aspires to establish a key position in the global market. Industry development is part of the national energy and industrial strategy. However, the industry faces a number of challenges: a lack of modern technology, limited production capacity, and a high dependence on foreign technology, primarily Chinese. Environmental risks also remain significant, including soil and water pollution with heavy metals and chemical reagents, as well as weak waste management. The government is taking steps to improve legislation and attract foreign investment. Particular attention is being paid to leveraging international trade agreements (EVFTA, CPTPP) to integrate into global supply chains and diversify partnerships to reduce dependence on China. With effective resource management, a favorable investment environment, and enhanced environmental controls, Vietnam could become a leading player in the REM market, especially given growing domestic demand for electric vehicles, solar panels, and other high-tech products.

The relevance of this article stems from the need to develop an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the sociocultural characteristics of Vietnamese consumer behavior. The author's goal is to analyze current trends in this area. Specifically, current trends in Vietnamese nutrition are highlighted. A review of the Vietnamese market is provided, prospects for promoting Russian products are identified, and recommendations for business development, taking into account the specifics of local consumer behavior, are offered. Furthermore, the article substantiates the importance of integrating digital technologies into the study of consumer behavior in different countries.

The strategic Vietnam-Soviet relationship profoundly influenced Vietnam's national liberation and development and was key to the USSR's geopolitical standing in 20th-century Southeast Asia. President Hồ Chí Minh, who possessed a deep understanding and special affection for this relationship, was a central architect of this relationship. This article examines this bond through the lens of his thought, aiming to clarify the principles of Vietnam's past foreign policy and derive lessons for strengthening the current Vietnam-Russia partnership. Employing historical and political science methods, the article proposes strategic implications for enhancing future cooperation by adapting traditional values to the contemporary geopolitical context.

As a sub-discipline of Anthropology, Visual Anthropology possesses a long-standing history of development and has become increasingly prevalent across centres of Anthropology and Ethnology. The analysis of the early development of Visual Anthropology, as well as the manner in which the discipline is structured and taught, must be situated within the specific historical and social contexts of each individual country. Accordingly, Visual Anthropology in the Soviet Union is no exception. It is therefore necessary to examine the current state of Visual Anthropology in Russia through the historical context of pre-Soviet Imperial Russia, the Soviet Union (1922–1991), and the Russian Federation (since 1991). In doing so, it becomes evident that Visual Anthropology in the Russian context has undergone distinct phases of development. A thorough understanding of these phases enables us to accurately identify and critically assess the modalities and extent of influence exerted by Visual Anthropology during both the Soviet and post-Soviet periods on the discipline of Anthropology in Vietnam. This article seeks to elucidate the developmental trajectories of Visual Anthropology in Russia across these historical periods and subsequently to analyse selected aspects of its influence on Vietnamese Anthropology.

The article is devoted to the images and symbols of Vietnamese folk poetry associated with the plant world. Among them, there are autochthonous Vietnamese ones, such as the pair symbol ‘betel and areca’, which is associated with love and marriage. In addition, there is a strong tradition of plant symbolism in the Far Eastern cultural region, which is evident in various art forms such as painting and poetry. Many plants sung in Vietnamese folk poetry made their way into folk songs from Chinese classical literature. These include bamboo, plum, peach, pomegranate, willow, pear, and lotus. These borrowed symbols are perceived as having an elevated connotation. At the same time, some plants growing in Vietnam but not sung in Chinese poetry are perceived as more down-to-earth and can be synonymous with simplicity, such as carambola, water spinach, water caltrop and others. Aromatic plants and herbs such as cinnamon, jasmine, ginger, star anise, red hot pepper, and sugar cane constitute a special category. Floronyms or phytonyms in folk poetry can also be combined with elements from the animal or material world (e.g., banyan tree and boat, butterfly and flower, etc.).

This article provides an overview of two major academic events of the Russian Oriental Studies community held in November 2025: the XIII International Conference of Young Orientalists “East Asia: Past, Present, Future” at the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the 30th All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference “Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Region: Current Development Issues” at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The papers presented, based on modern research approaches, analyze political, economic, and socio-cultural processes in Southeast Asian countries.

The full text of the joint statement on deepening the Vietnam - Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, made on 12 of August, 2025 in Seoul, is given.

This review examines the monograph “Diplomatic Thought on National Defense in the History of the Vietnamese Nation”, which traces the formation and evolution of Vietnamese diplomacy from the nation's foundation until 1930. Prepared by a team of authors from the Institute of Military Social and Human Sciences under the Academy of Politics of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam and published in Hanoi in May 2025, the book represents the first comprehensive effort to systematically analyze the phenomenon of Vietnam's diplomatic thought. It tracks its genesis, formation, and transformation, synthesizing disparate diplomatic practices into a coherent ideological framework. Drawing on an extensive body of historical sources, the authors introduce the concept of «diplomatic thought on national defense» (tư tưởng ngoại giao bảo vệ Tổ quốc) and reveal how, across different eras, diplomacy served Vietnam as a tool for preserving independence and became an integral part of its national identity. The review analyzes the structure and content of each chapter, assesses the research's source base, relevance, and novelty, and highlights both its strengths and debatable points.