US President Biden visits Vietnam as part of a new “comprehensive strategic partnership” to counter the influence of China in the region.

Hun Sen says that he is resigning and that his son Hun Manet, will take over. Hun Sen is expected to remain powerful. The younger Hun, 45, is a US military university, West Point, graduate and is chief of the army.

Parliament elects Vo Van Thuong, 52, the new president, in a reshuffle of the country’s top leadership amid a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Several ministers have been removed. The Communist Party is purging its membership, creating factional infighting.

Philippine Supreme Court nullifies a contract with China and Vietnam as unconstitutionally allowing a foreign country to develop Philippine resources.

National Assembly votes to dismiss two deputy prime ministers without explanation, although the government is intensifying its crackdown on corruption.

On a visit to China, Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong assures China that it will not host any foreign military bases. The two countries agree to try to manage the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

Government lifts most severe COVID-19 restrictions on Ho Chi Minh City beginning 10/1/21. The restrictions in Vietnam have seriously impacted commerce in the rest of the world. Vietnam is the second-largest supplier of footwear and apparel to both China and the US.

Japan and Vietnam sign mutual defense pact to increase cooperation.

China tells Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh that both countries should refrain from unilateral actions in the South China Sea.

Government imposes stay-at-home restrictions as COVID-19 cases surge due to delta variant.

Nguyen Xuan Phuc is elected president. The National Assembly elects Pham Minh Chinh as prime minister.

Despite its rules against a third term and an age limit of 65, the Communist Party re-elects Nguyen Phu Trong to be party leader. Though he is in poor health and is 76, Trong was the choice because the party could not agree on a successor. Though a strict Marxist-Leninist, TRong has allowed the economy to flourish and held the COVID-19 pandemic to a low level in Vietnam, which was rated second in the world to New Zealand for its response to the pandemic. Some believe that Vietnam will seek better relations with the West and the US in order to counterbalance China’s increasing dominance of the region.

Fifteen Asia-Pacific nations sign the world's largest free-trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in Vietnam. It replaces the Trans-Pacific Partnership, from which the US withdrew the United States in early 2017. The countries are: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Vietnam rejects China fishing ban. The Philippines also objects.

Vietnam protests after China opens two administrative districts on islands in the South China Sea under control of Sansha City and called that. Vietnam calls it a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty.

China reports progress with Southeast Asian countries (including Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam) on an agreement about the “code of conduct” in the South China Sea. The United States is not involved.

Communist Party nominates its general secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, to be president. He will have to be confirmed, a largely pro forma event.

Pres Tran Dai Quang dies from illness.

Despite stated agreements to negotiate access to islands in the South China Sea, China continues to build up its forces there.

Eleven nations sign the Asia-Americas trade agreement now called the “Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership” (CPTPP). Canada bowed out at the last minute. Canada did not make its objections explicit, but they may relate to internal politics. The signatories are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

China announces agreement about a process of resolving disputes with Vietnam about South China Sea.