In the context of global climate change, droughts are expected to become more severe, persistent, and frequent. Drought is considered to be one of the main drivers of vegetation mortality, and the mechanism of vegetation response to drought has been the focus of global attention. This paper analyzes the research hotspots on vegetation response to drought at internal and international through bibliometric analysis, summarizes the progress of drought assessment in the alpine plateau region on this basis, and further analyzes the mechanism of vegetation response to drought from the perspectives of vegetation structure and physiological changes, vegetation water recharge, and ecosystem stability. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the research conducted on the impact of drought on vegetation in the alpine plateau region. Additionally, the paper will discuss the existing challenges and limitations of this research, as well as offer insights into future directions and trends in this field. This paper aims to serve as a valuable reference for researchers, establish a foundation for further research and decision-making in the alpine plateau region, and contribute to the advancement of research in this field.