THE FOUNDATION FOR BUILDING VIETNAM’S DIGITAL DIPLOMACY IN THE 21st CENTURY

The remarkable advancements in science and technology worldwide have profoundly impacted every aspect of human life, including international relations. Along with the trend of globalization, countries are constantly seeking new ways to diversify their diplomatic activities in order to maximize their foreign policy objectives. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that the use of digital tools has become a lifeline for exchanges between nations and peoples. Therefore, digital diplomacy, once regarded as merely a new approach, has quickly become an inevitable trend of the era. During this period, Vietnam's awareness and activities regarding digital diplomacy have also been significantly promoted. However, the question arises: Has Vietnam truly established a digital diplomacy framework? Is it necessary to focus on building an effective digital diplomacy platform for Vietnam? What theoretical and practical elements are required to develop this new form of diplomacy? These are some of the key aspects that we aim to fundamentally address in this article.