POLICY BRIEF
For German government agencies, policymakers, and civil society organisations
August 2025
Executive Summary
Human rights awareness in Vietnam remains limited, shaped by the
country’s authoritarian governance, historical legacies, and
restricted civic space. Without a certain level of political literacy,
citizens often struggle to develop an accurate understanding of
human rights or the capacity to claim them. These challenges are
further compounded by sensitivities around transitional justice,
reconciliation, and national development — issues that remain
politically delicate.
For Germany, supporting rights education in Vietnam matters on
multiple levels. It strengthens an already important partnership that
spans trade, climate action, sustainable development, and
vocational training. It also aligns with Germany’s “Know, Claim,
Realise” vision, which recognises that awareness of rights is the
foundation for their protection and enjoyment. Public
understanding of human rights is particularly crucial in Vietnam’s
key areas of cooperation with Germany — climate governance and
workers’ welfare — where rights-based advocacy is often restricted.
Germany brings unique strengths to this work. Its own history of
division and unification, the cultivation of broad political literacy,
and its integrated approach to democracy, sustainability, and
economic growth provide relevant lessons. Germany is seen
internationally as a principled actor that balances pragmatism with
values-based diplomacy — an identity that resonates strongly in the
current geopolitical context, where U.S. retrenchment has created
opportunities for other partners to play a steadier role in supporting
human rights and democratic norms.
This brief recommends practical, risk-aware steps Germany can
take. These include: strengthening differentiated support for
Vietnamese civil society at home and abroad; embedding rights
awareness in existing cooperation on climate action, vocational
training, and women’s empowerment; and leveraging cultural and
intellectual avenues, such as the Goethe-Institut, to nurture
aspirations for a more open and inclusive future. Aligning these
efforts with symbolic dates, such as German Unity Day and
International Human Rights Day, can further reinforce Germany’s
credibility as a consistent and principled partner.
To view or download full brief, click here.
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