Nearly 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, over a decade of strategic partnership, and following the third Viet Nam-Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting in July 2015, the two countries have consistently deepened their political trust. They have achieved significant and tangible outcomes in bilateral cooperation, laying a solid foundation for taking the relationship to new heights.
Political, defence, and security cooperation between Viet Nam and Thailand continues to be strengthened. High-level exchanges and meetings at all levels, as well as bilateral cooperation mechanisms, have been maintained effectively. The Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) maintains strong ties with several major and influential political parties in Thailand, including the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
The prime ministers of both countries have regularly met on the sidelines of recent international conferences. The two sides are also actively implementing an action program for the enhanced strategic partnership for the 2022–2027 period.
A highlight of the Viet Nam-Thailand partnership is their thriving trade and investment cooperation. Thailand is Viet Nam’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and ranks ninth globally. Bilateral trade turnover in 2024 exceeded 20.2 billion USD, an increase of approximately 6.6% compared to 2023. With 761 valid investment projects and total registered capital exceeding 14.8 billion USD, Thailand ranks as the ninth-largest foreign investor in Viet Nam. Local-to-local cooperation continues to expand, with an increasing number of Vietnamese and Thai provinces and cities signing cooperation and twinning agreements.
Beyond economic ties, cooperation in other key areas such as energy, culture, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges has also seen significant achievements. The Thai Government has been creating favourable conditions for the preservation and development of cultural heritage sites linked to the Vietnamese community, including three historical sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh. In 2023, the world’s first “Viet Nam Street” was inaugurated in Udon Thani Province. The Vietnamese community in Thailand, numbering over 100,000 people, has been enabled to participate in the country’s political, economic, and social life, becoming an important bridge for friendship and solidarity between the two peoples.
In multilateral cooperation, Viet Nam and Thailand continue to coordinate closely on positions at regional and international forums, especially on strategic issues such as enhancing ASEAN unity, upholding ASEAN centrality, and the position on the East Sea/South China Sea. Both countries also promote joint positions and collaboration at the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.
Taking place as Viet Nam and Thailand prepare to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s official visit to Viet Nam further consolidates and deepens the long-standing relations between the two nations.
By welcoming Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on her official visit, Viet Nam reaffirms its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralisation of international relations, along with its consistent policy of valuing ties with neighbouring countries and ASEAN members, including Thailand.
