ABSTRACT
During the past five years, Vietnam has made a spectacular transformation in its foreign policy from confrontation with its neighboring states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to cooperation and association with them. In 1994, the ASEAN group invited Vietnam to join their organization and on July 28, 1995, Vietnam acceded to membership. This urge for membership in the Southeast Asian community seems to be driven by two felt needs: one, to secure support in its enduring struggle with China; the other, to participate in the economic growth that its neighbors have been enjoying.
