Escalating conflict in the Middle East has pushed the global energy market into a period of serious instability, with oil prices rising steadily while supply continues to tighten. In this context, many countries are rushing to release strategic reserves in an effort to cool the surge in oil prices.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Ambassador of Thailand to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya in Ha Noi on March 13 to discuss measures for promoting the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as cooperation in ensuring energy security for both sides.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel on March 12 issued a notice to the Vietnamese nationals living, studying, and working there, urging heightened caution amid a complex security situation following a surge in missile and drone strikes in recent days.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a telephone conversation with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on March 9 evening to discuss the regional situation and promote bilateral relations.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held phone talks with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, on March 9 evening.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang highlighted measures taken by Vietnamese ministries and agencies to ensure trade, economic activities and energy security amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, at the ministry's regular press briefing on March 5.

The Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has requested industry associations to urgently review and assess the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on import-export activities, logistics, and the supply of raw materials.

The direct military confrontation between the US, Israel, and Iran is pushing global energy markets towards their most severe shock in decades.

The Viet Nam Maritime and Waterway Administration (VIMAWA) has called on shipowners with vessels operating on international routes to closely review updated information on maritime safety and security conditions before planning voyages to the Middle East to ensure the safety and security and legitimate rights and interests of crew members.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang on March 3 reiterated Viet Nam’s opposition to the use of force against sovereign nations while responding to reporters’ questions regarding the recent escalation of severe tensions in the Middle East.

As the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran entered its fourth day with increasingly complex developments, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has issued a notice urging members of the Vietnamese community to heighten vigilance and strictly comply with local security regulations.

In the opening months of 2026, smouldering tensions between nations have suddenly flared into open conflict, threatening to spread further. As successive “red lines” are crossed and strategic calculations overshadow trust, the world faces many crises, making diplomatic solutions more urgent than ever.

The Department of Overseas Labour under the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 1 requested enterprises to suspend sending workers to the Middle East until the situation there is brought under control and stabilised.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Viet Nam Trade Office in Israel has urged domestic exporters to keep a close watch on the evolving situation and stay in regular contact with shipping lines and overseas partners, particularly for shipments already in transit, to ensure timely adjustments to contracts and risk mitigation plans.

Several international flights to and from Viet Nam have been cancelled or affected as of noon on March 2 due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

Vietnamese embassies in the Gulf on February 28 issued urgent notices advising Vietnamese citizens there to limit non-essential travel and avoid security-sensitive locations to ensure their safety.

The MoFA advised Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Iran or Israel at this time, or to neighbouring areas affected by the conflict unless absolutely necessary.

The coalition forces have completed their withdrawal from bases on the territory of the Iraqi federation, marking the end of the first phase of the US-led military mission against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Iraq.

Fresh off their trip to Africa and the Middle East, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, laid new strategic ground for diversifying partnerships and expanding development space for Vietnamese businesses and localities. The trip included official visits to Kuwait and Algeria, and engagement in the G20 Summit and bilateral activities in South Africa, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.

The global economy is facing various complex factors, tariff tensions, and rising trade protection trends, which are exerting pressure on highly open economies such as Viet Nam. In addition, increasingly stringent requirements on green standards and digitalisation, diversification of export markets has become a matter of survival.