Indonesia Showcases Pancasila as a Model for Multicultural Governance in Vietnam

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Carolina Tinangon, introduced the role of Pancasila and the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) in Vietnam during a guest lecture delivered to master’s students of the Asian Studies Program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

In her presentation titled Indonesia’s Approaches to Multicultural Governance and Cohesion, Carolina explained that Pancasila (The Five Principles) and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika serve as vital foundations for building inclusive social governance, guaranteeing equal rights for all citizens, and protecting diversity.

“The principles of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika and Pancasila are essential foundations for building inclusive social governance and guaranteeing equal rights for citizens, while maintaining a balance between national unity and local identity,” Carolina said, as quoted from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Monday, August 31, 2026.

She further outlined Indonesia’s strategies for balancing national unity with local identity through decentralization, interfaith dialogue, and community-based initiatives.

“The experiences of Serangan Island and Bali were highlighted as concrete examples of communities from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds coexisting peacefully sharing living spaces, collaborating, and showing mutual respect for one another's places of worship,” she said during the event held on August 15.

The interactive lecture covered multicultural governance, diversity education, the role of local communities, and the challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst globalization. The session formed part of the Ethnic Conflict in Asian Societies course, offering an opportunity to enrich academic perspectives with practical insights into managing diversity within ASEAN.

“This initiative represents a concrete manifestation of people-to-people connectivity and educational diplomacy between Indonesia and Vietnam, particularly in strengthening academic cooperation, conflict prevention, and the preservation of cultural heritage across the region,” the Consul General concluded. (Diva Rifdah-EN)