Why Hasn't Vietnam Gained ASEAN Membership?

Not long ago, it would have been impossible to imagine the current rapprochement between Vietnam and the ASEAN countries. Changes in the global and regional environment, as well as in the policies of Vietnam and the constituent ASEAN members are the main reasons for the improvement. Stimulated by ASEAN's success, Vietnam has shown its interest in joining the Association. Among the ASEAN countries, Indonesia and Malaysia have positively supported Vietnam's proposal, but ASEAN, as an organization, has not yet reached consensus on the issue. This article analyses some underlying reasons for the hesitations among the ASEAN countries and discusses Vietnam's main preoccupations