Bich Tran is a postdoctoral fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. In addition to being an adjunct fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C., she has been a visiting fellow at the East West Center, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS-Asia), and ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, among others. Dr. Tran obtained her PhD in political science from the University of Antwerp in Belgium. Her research interests include Vietnam’s grand strategy, Southeast Asian states’ relations with major powers, and political leadership. She has published on various platforms, including Asia Pacific Issues, Asian Perspective, Asian Politics & Policy, The Diplomat, East Asia Forum, and Fulcrum. Dr. Tran is the author of “Vietnam's Strategic Adjustments and US Policy” (Survival 64, no. 6, 77–90). 

Programs & Projects

Areas of Expertise

All Bich Tran Content

Filter by

1 - 10 of 12 results

Spotlight - Vietnam: September 12, 2023

On September 10, 2023, in Hanoi, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Nguyen Phu Trong, and U.S. president Joseph Biden elevated the United States-Vietnam comprehensive partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership,

Blog Post by Bich Tran — September 12, 2023

Where Is Vietnam on the Sino-U.S. Spectrum?

Twenty years after implementing a grand strategic adjustment that was expected to position the country equidistantly between China and the United States, Vietnam remains closer to the Chinese side of the Sino-U.S. spectrum.

Commentary by Bich Tran — July 19, 2023

Room to Grow in the Singapore-Vietnam Relationship

Singapore and Vietnam are two of the “leading regional partners” in the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, and their relations have implications for U.S. policy.

Commentary by Bich Tran — March 14, 2023

Spotlight - Vietnam: May 12, 2022

On May 11, 2022, Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh gave public remarks at CSIS ahead of the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit. From his 45-minute speech, there were three main takeaways.

Blog Post by Bich Tran — May 12, 2022

U.S.-Vietnam Cooperation under Biden’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

On February 11, 2022, the Biden administration released its Indo-Pacific Strategy. The document covers a vast geographic area including many nations and touches upon a wide range of issues. What does the new strategy mean for U.S.-Vietnam cooperation?

Commentary by Bich Tran — March 2, 2022

A Renewed Focus on Indonesia-U.S. Relations

As the world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia is an important partner of the United States. The two sides are collaborating in ways that are not only bilateral, but increasingly regional and notably global.

Commentary by Bich Tran — February 17, 2022

U.S. Leadership and Vietnamese Resilience Both Require the CPTPP

Vietnam heavily depends on China for capital and intermediate goods, creating vulnerabilities in the country’s entire production chain. Solving this challenge will require the United States to reengage with free trade in the Indo-Pacific.

Commentary by Bich Tran — September 16, 2021