KUALA LUMPUR — As Southeast Asia cautiously navigates an increasingly uncertain strategic environment, Vietnamese President Tô Lâm’s upcoming visits to Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines deserve closer attention than what routine diplomatic itineraries would normally attract. At first glance, this may appear merely another round of Asean intra-regional engagements. But in reality, the timing, destinations and political symbolism involved suggest something more substantial: Vietnam is steadily positioning itself not only as a beneficiary of Southeast Asia’s strategic centrality, but increasingly