At the invitation of King Frederik X and Queen Mary of the Kingdom of Denmark, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam To Lam, accompanied by his spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, is paying a State visit to Denmark.

The visit is of great significance, marking the first State visit to Denmark by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and taking place as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. It also provides an opportunity for Viet Nam and Denmark to comprehensively elevate bilateral ties, marking a turning point towards more substantive and effective cooperation.

Denmark is a highly developed country, with per capita income among the highest in the world and an advanced welfare system. Its economy follows the Nordic social market economy model, combining an open market, a dynamic private sector, transparent governance and a comprehensive welfare system. Denmark is also a frontrunner in the green transition, renewable energy and the circular economy.

Denmark consistently ranks among the leading countries in the Global Innovation Index, supported by a strong research and development (R&D) ecosystem, close cooperation between the government, universities and businesses, and innovation capabilities in areas such as green technology, life sciences, digitalisation and smart cities. A defining feature of Denmark's economic model is the close and sustainable integration of competitiveness, sustainable development and social welfare.

In foreign affairs, Denmark is serving as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2025–2026 term. The country is strengthening cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region, placing particular importance on emerging markets such as Viet Nam.

Denmark was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. It was also home to a strong public movement supporting the Vietnamese people's struggle for national independence and reunification. The two countries established diplomatic ties on November 25, 1971, and are celebrating the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2026.

Over several decades of close engagement, relations between the two countries have undergone significant transformation, evolving from development assistance to equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. The two countries established a strategic partnership in climate change, energy, the environment, and green growth in November 2011, a comprehensive partnership in September 2013, and a green strategic partnership in November 2023. Denmark ratified the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) on November 24, 2021.

At multilateral forums, the two sides work closely together at the United Nations, within the ASEAN-EU framework and at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), while supporting each other in international organisations, particularly the United Nations.

Today, Denmark has become one of the EU’s leading investors in Viet Nam, while standing out among Nordic partners for its high-quality investment and green development. Bilateral trade has recorded positive growth, reaching 720.69 million USD in 2025. Trade between Viet Nam and Denmark features a clearly complementary structure. Viet Nam’s main exports to Denmark include textiles and garments, footwear, wooden products, metal products, handicrafts, electrical equipment, and coffee, while its principal imports include dairy products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and seafood. The EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has facilitated market access for goods from both countries.

In terms of investment, as of December 2025, Denmark has 174 active projects in Viet Nam, with total registered capital of 2.02 billion USD, ranking 21st among countries and territories investing in the country.

Industrial cooperation between the two countries focuses on green technology, sustainable manufacturing, energy efficiency, and the development of low-carbon value chains. Both sides are promoting cooperation in processing and manufacturing industries, supporting industries and environmental technology, as well as improving energy efficiency in industrial production.

Through technical cooperation programmes, Denmark has supported Viet Nam in implementing a range of initiatives on energy conservation and efficiency, developing green production models, assessing industrial energy consumption and promoting voluntary energy-saving agreements among businesses. The two sides also aim to strengthen cooperation in digital transformation, green technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and Industry 4.0 to support sustainable development.

Energy stands out as a significant and substantive area of ​​cooperation in the bilateral relationship. Since 2013, the two nations have implemented the Viet Nam–Denmark Energy Partnership Programme (DEPP), which supports Viet Nam in energy planning, the integration of renewable energy, the enhancement of power system operational efficiency, and the promotion of low-carbon development. Furthermore, Denmark is an active member of the International Partners Group (IPG), which supports Viet Nam in the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), contributing to the country’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

On November 1, 2023, the two sides adopted a Joint Declaration on the establishment of a Green Strategic Partnership. This partnership aimed to accelerate the green transition, raise global climate ambitions, and place a strong emphasis on a just green transition.

In the healthcare sector, a strategic partnership has been underway since 2016, coordinated by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health. Key areas of cooperation include strengthening primary healthcare services for the prevention, detection, and management of non-communicable diseases—specifically diabetes and hypertension. 

Regarding development cooperation, Denmark was among the first Western European nations to provide development aid to Viet Nam and remains one of the largest providers of non-repayable Official Development Assistance (ODA). Since 1972, Denmark has provided Viet Nam with over 1 billion USD in ODA—averaging approximately 64 million USD annually—focusing on areas such as infrastructure development, poverty reduction, sustainable development, administrative reform, environmental protection, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises. These initiatives have been implemented primarily in major cities, towns, and rural areas across the Northern Delta and North Central Coast, and have since expanded to include provinces in the highlands and the northern mountainous regions.

Cultural cooperation between the two countries has developed positively, particularly through the implementation of the Viet Nam–Denmark Cultural Development Cooperation Programme. Cooperation activities have supported policy development in Viet Nam through a series of seminars on the cultural and creative industries, while cultural and artistic events, such as the Monsoon Music Festival, have been held relatively regularly over the years. Denmark also supported Viet Nam in completing its 2016–2019 Periodic Report on the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

In tourism, the number of Danish visitors to Viet Nam has grown rapidly, particularly since Viet Nam introduced a visa exemption for Danish citizens visiting the country for stays of fewer than 15 days in 2005 and Viet Nam Airlines launched direct flights to Denmark in December 2025. Approximately 40,000 Danish tourists visited Viet Nam in 2025. In the first six months of 2026, Viet Nam has welcomed more than 27,000 arrivals from Denmark.

The Vietnamese community in Denmark numbers approximately 18,500 people. Its members enjoy stable lives, are well integrated into local society, work diligently, respect local laws, and maintain strong ties with their homeland. They are well integrated and highly regarded by the host country. The Association of Vietnamese Experts and Intellectuals in Denmark was established in January 2023.

According to information from the Embassy of Denmark in Viet Nam, Danish Ambassador to Viet Nam Lina Gandlose Hansen highlighted the significance of the state visit to the Kingdom of Denmark by General Secretary and President To Lam. She emphasised that Denmark and Viet Nam are celebrating their 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, and that the state visit provides an opportunity to celebrate the enduring friendship that the two countries have nurtured over many decades. At a time when the world is undergoing major changes, the strengthening of ties and deepening of cooperation between small and medium-sized countries such as Denmark and Viet Nam is particularly important.

With the visit by General Secretary and State President To Lam, we are opening a new chapter in the partnership between our two countries.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Nguyen Le Thanh, the State visit to Denmark by General Secretary and State President To Lam is of particular importance. It is the first State visit to Denmark by a Vietnamese Party General Secretary and the only State visit Denmark will host in 2026. The visit takes place as the two countries mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, against a backdrop of increasingly extensive, substantive and effective bilateral cooperation.

The visit will mark an important historic milestone in bilateral relations, reflecting the strategic vision, political determination and mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries, while providing fresh impetus for Viet Nam-Denmark relations to reach new heights.

The visit will provide strong momentum for further cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economics, trade, investment, science and technology, and innovation, in line with each country's priorities and development needs. Viet Nam is entering a new stage of development, accelerating the transformation of its growth model towards one driven by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, while promoting green transition and sustainable development. These are areas in which Denmark has considerable strengths. The two countries have significant complementary potential, opening up opportunities to expand cooperation beyond the sharing of experience and policies to encompass investment, technology research and development, and high-quality human resource training, thereby creating new products, solutions and drivers of growth.

The visit is also important for strengthening coordination between Viet Nam and Denmark on regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two countries share a common vision of a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing world, based on respect for the United Nations Charter and international law, upholding multilateralism and strengthening international cooperation to address shared challenges. This provides an important foundation for the two sides to continue exchanges and enhance coordination within multilateral mechanisms, making positive contributions to peace, stability and sustainable development in their respective regions and around the world.