This is Sophon Zaram's first visit to Viet Nam since assuming office as President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives in March this year. It is also the first official visit to Viet Nam by the head of Thailand's legislature in nine years.
The visit reflects Viet Nam's foreign policy, as set out in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, which places high priority on relations with neighbouring countries and fellow ASEAN member states, including Thailand.
Taking place as Viet Nam and Thailand commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations through a series of meaningful activities, the visit is expected to further strengthen political trust and advance the implementation of agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders, particularly the outcomes of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's official visit to Thailand in May 2026 and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's official visit to Viet Nam in June 2026.
During those visits, the two sides discussed key priorities and major directions for enhancing bilateral cooperation. Political, defence, and security ties have continued to be strengthened, while bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been maintained effectively. In May 2026, the two countries signed the action programme for implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership for the 2026–2031 period.
High-level exchanges have played a particularly important role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, laying a solid foundation for further promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation.
Viet Nam and Thailand have witnessed robust progress in their comprehensive strategic partnership. Bilateral trade has continued to record impressive growth, with Thailand maintaining its position as Viet Nam's largest trading partner within ASEAN. Notably, Thailand has risen to become the eighth-largest foreign investor in Viet Nam.
In 2025, two-way trade reached 22.1 billion USD, up 9% compared with 2024. During the first six months of 2026, bilateral trade exceeded 13.3 billion USD, representing a year-on-year increase of 27%, with Viet Nam's exports rising 33% to more than 5.6 billion USD. Thailand currently has 804 valid investment projects in Viet Nam with total registered capital of more than 15.4 billion USD, ranking eighth among 153 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam and second among ASEAN investors.
The two sides are also working to develop specific measures to vigorously implement the "Three Connects" strategy, comprising supply chain connectivity, connectivity between businesses and localities of the two countries, and alignment of sustainable growth strategies.
Bilateral cooperation is expanding beyond traditional industries to new areas such as the semiconductor industry and the digital economy. Cooperation in energy, culture, tourism, and education continues to be strengthened. The two countries also maintain close coordination at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN, the United Nations, and APEC.
Viet Nam and Thailand attach great importance to further consolidating and strengthening their friendship and cooperation, including ties between their legislatures. In December 2023, the two sides signed new cooperation agreements between the two legislatures and between the Office of the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of Thailand.
They have also maintained close cooperation at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, including the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), while supporting each other's positions on regional, international, and shared issues of common interest. These efforts have contributed to enhancing the role and standing of both legislatures and promoting bilateral cooperation.
Building on the remarkable achievements of the past 50 years of friendship and cooperation, the official visit to Viet Nam by President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Sophon Zaram is expected to open new opportunities and create fresh momentum for deeper and more effective Viet Nam–Thailand cooperation, serving the common interests of the two peoples and contributing to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
