Flying Blind

This book discusses Vietnams relations with ASEAN in the period from the early 1970s to mid-1990s. It focuses on the evolution of Hanois view on ASEAN, from denial to integration in the organization. Further, it reveals the reasons behind Hanois decision to join ASEAN in 1995 in the context of the transformation of the overall Vietnams foreign policy when the Cold War ended. Relaxation of the Cold War conditions allowed Hanoi to improve understanding of ASEAN that resulted in better Vietnam-ASEAN relations and subsequent Vietnams membership in ASEAN. The author has had access to documents and interviewees that few other researchers can rival. And the richness of the empirical evidence of this book makes a significant contribution to the studies of Vietnam foreign relations in specific and Southeast Asian international relations in general.