The visit is of particular historic significance as it marks the first state visit to Denmark by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. It is also the first visit to Denmark by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam following the successful 14th National Party Congress and the consolidation of leadership positions after the elections to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 tenure. The state visit represents a proactive step in implementing the Party's foreign policy as outlined in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo's resolutions.
Denmark is an important partner in Viet Nam's foreign policy and international integration efforts. The invitation extended by the Danish King to Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse demonstrates Denmark's high regard for Viet Nam's position and role, the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, its particular esteem for the Vietnamese leader, and its recognition of Viet Nam's development potential.
The visit will help strengthen personal ties between Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Danish leaders, while maximising the role of head-of-state diplomacy in mobilising and effectively utilising resources for national development, directly contributing to Viet Nam's double-digit growth targets. It also provides an opportunity to further enhance political trust between Viet Nam and Denmark, foster a favourable external environment for Viet Nam in its new era of development, and raise the country's standing in the region and the world.
Since establishing diplomatic ties on November 25, 1971, Viet Nam and Denmark have steadily nurtured their friendship and fruitful cooperation. Denmark was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with Viet Nam. Since then, the two sides have maintained effective delegation exchanges and high-level contacts while implementing numerous cooperation programmes in strategically important sectors.
Over the past 55 years of shared development, the two countries have built a solid foundation for cooperation through several partnership frameworks, including the Strategic Partnership in Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Green Growth established in November 2011; the comprehensive partnership in September 2013; and the green strategic partnership in November 2023. The two sides have maintained effective delegation exchanges and high-level contacts while implementing numerous cooperation programmes in strategically important sectors.
Viet Nam attaches particular importance to its 55-year friendship and cooperation with Denmark. For its part, Denmark regards Viet Nam as an important partner, one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic economies and a priority investment destination in the region. Denmark currently has more than 150 enterprises operating in Viet Nam and 174 valid investment projects with total registered capital exceeding 2 billion USD, ranking 21st among countries and territories investing in Viet Nam. Bilateral trade reached 720.69 million USD in 2025.
Energy is a prominent area of substantive cooperation between the two countries. Since 2013, the two sides have implemented the Viet Nam–Denmark Energy Partnership Programme, supporting Viet Nam in energy planning, renewable energy integration, improving power system efficiency, and promoting low-carbon development.
Denmark is also an active member of the International Partners Group supporting Viet Nam's implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Cooperation in education, healthcare, culture, and tourism has also recorded encouraging progress.
The state visit to Denmark by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam represents a proactive step in implementing the Party's foreign policy as outlined in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Politburo's resolutions.
Despite the achievements recorded so far, considerable potential remains for Viet Nam and Denmark to further strengthen their ties. The visit by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam is expected to open opportunities for cooperation in areas where Denmark possesses strengths and resources and Viet Nam has development needs, including green transport, green seaports, renewable energy, new energy technologies, and biomedicine.
Such cooperation will create fresh momentum for bilateral trade and investment, diversify Viet Nam's export markets in Northern Europe and the European Union (EU), increase bilateral trade turnover and encourage more large-scale Danish investment projects in Viet Nam.
Building on the solid foundation of friendship and fruitful cooperation cultivated over the past 55 years, together with strong political determination, shared strategic orientations, and favourable international and domestic conditions, Viet Nam and Denmark have an opportunity to achieve a turning point towards more substantive and effective cooperation.
Against this backdrop, the state visit to Denmark by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam is expected to generate breakthroughs and elevate bilateral relations to a level commensurate with the strategic scope of cooperation in the new era of development. It will also help establish Viet Nam–Denmark relations as a model of cooperation with a Nordic partner, contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.
