This article analyzes the strategic collision between the transactionalism of the Trump 2.0 administration and China’s ambition to construct a parallel international order through its three global initiatives (GSI, GDI, and GCI). Employing the theoretical frameworks of Neoclassical Realism and Hedging Strategy, the article elucidates the fracturing of traditional alliance systems and the emergence of a fragmented regional security architecture. Notably, the strategic dilemma facing Vietnam is identified: the risks of punitive tariffs from the United States and the security-infrastructure pressures from China. Consequently, the research proposes that Vietnam should reinforce its strategic autonomy through proactive adaptation, integrating pragmatic diplomacy with deep diversification to maximize its strategic autonomy within this evolving landscape.