Vietnam and Thailand established diplomatic relations on August 6, 1976. Over the past five decades, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries have been steadily strengthened and expanded across all fields. Thailand’s The Standard noted that the 50-year journey demonstrates how the two countries that once stood on opposite sides during the Cold War have succeeded in building a deep partnership, becoming trading partners with bilateral commerce exceeding US$20 billion and Strategic Partners. While the path has not always been smooth, the direction of the relationship has remained clear and consistent.
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong, one of the most notable achievements in Vietnam–Thailand relations has been the steady consolidation of the two sides’ political trust. The two sides maintain regular high-level visits, strategic exchanges, and cooperation mechanisms in a broad range of areas. Among these, the Joint Cabinet Retreat chaired by the two prime ministers stands out as a unique mechanism, reflecting a high level of mutual trust and close coordination in advancing comprehensive cooperation.
Economic cooperation continues to serve as a cornerstone of bilateral relations. Thailand is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner within ASEAN. In 2025, two-way trade reached US$22.1 billion, up by 9 percent from 2024. In terms of investment, Thailand ranks second among the ASEAN countries investing in Vietnam, with major projects concentrated in manufacturing and processing industries, wind power generation, petrochemicals, real estate, wholesale and retail sectors.
"Vietnam and Thailand possess highly complementary strengths at a time when global supply chains are undergoing restructuring. Vietnam enjoys advantages in supporting industries, a technology-oriented workforce and manufacturing capacity, while Thailand has strong capabilities in electric vehicle production, petrochemicals and logistics infrastructure. Enhanced economic connectivity between the two countries would strengthen their competitiveness and reinforce ASEAN’s central role," The Standard observed.
In defense and security cooperation, Vietnam and Thailand have maintained effective bilateral mechanisms, including the High-Level Dialogue on Crime Prevention and Security Cooperation and the Defense Policy Dialogue. The two countries work closely together in combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, and other non-traditional security challenges. Such cooperation has contributed significantly to building mutual trust and preserving a peaceful and stable regional environment.
Tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties have also recorded encouraging progress. In 2025, more than 660,300 Vietnamese tourists visited Thailand, while nearly 458,000 Thai visitors traveled to Vietnam. Thailand is actively promoting the “Six Countries, One Destination” tourism initiative to enhance regional connectivity. To date, 20 Vietnamese provinces and cities have established cooperation or sister-city agreements with localities in Thailand.
The Vietnamese community in Thailand, with more than 100,000 people mainly residing in the Northeast, is widely regarded as an important bridge of friendship between the two nations. In particular, historical sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand continue to play a meaningful role in preserving traditional friendship, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and fostering mutual understanding between the two countries.
Ahead of the visit, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong emphasized that, built upon a strong foundation of friendship, high political trust and broad prospects for cooperation, the visit is expected to generate new momentum for further advancing Vietnam–Thailand relations and elevating the partnership to new heights in the years ahead.
For her part, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya expressed confidence that General Secretary and President To Lam’s official visit would usher in a new stage of development in bilateral ties. According to the ambassador, the visit will not only reinforce the existing areas of cooperation but also deepen the enduring friendship between the peoples of the two countries, further advancing the Vietnam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while contributing to a more connected, prosperous and sustainable ASEAN.
