France becomes Vietnam’s 8th comprehensive strategic partner
Vietnam and France have announced the upgrade of their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest tier of the former’s diplomatic hierarchy.
France has become the first of the European Union and the eighth nation worldwide to have such a partnership with Vietnam, after China, Russia, India, South Korea, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
As such, Vietnam has established such a partnership with four out of the five United Nations Security Council nations.
The upgrade was announced during official talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and visiting Party General Secretary and President To Lam in Paris on Monday.

French President Emmanuel Macron (right) and Party General Secretary and President To Lam shake hands in Paris, France, October 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of The gioi & Viet Nam (World & Vietnam) newspaper.
Lam was on an official visit to France on October 6-7 at the invitation of President Macron. This was the first visit by a Vietnamese president to the European nation after 22 years.
Vietnam and France established diplomatic relations on April 12, 1973 and reached a bilateral comprehensive partnership in 2013.
The two leaders agreed on major directions and measures to deepen this partnership and make it more practical and aligned with the new context of bilateral cooperation.
The two sides reckoned national defense-security cooperation as a critical pillar of their partnership, committed to effectively implementing existing cooperation agreements, and agreed to hold the Vietnam-France Defense Strategy and Cooperation Dialogue soon.
Regarding economic and trade issues, France pledged to continue providing concessional loans and official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam. The two leaders encouraged businesses to make full use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
To Lam called on France to expedite the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and back the European Commission to lift the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.
For his part, President Macron pledged to recommend EVIPA ratification to the French parliament soon.
They agreed to strengthen joint work in areas of high potential, such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, and airport transport infrastructure. They also touched upon furthering cooperation in health, education, agriculture, and climate change response.
The two sides highly regard ASEAN's central role in the region and pledged to continue promoting France-ASEAN and EU-ASEAN relations. They also committed to supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organizations such as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ASEAN-EU cooperation framework, the Francophonie, and the United Nations.
President Macron stressed that France highly valued Vietnam's stance on ending violence, easing tensions, and calling on all parties to resolve conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions by peaceful means and in accordance with international law.
Regarding the South China Sea (referred to as the East Sea in Vietnam) issue, both sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation, and resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
Lam invited Macron to visit Vietnam soon, and the French leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.
In the framework of Lam’s visit, many documents and cooperation agreements in the realms of diplomacy, culture, education, transportation, and internal affairs were signed by ministries, agencies, and localities of the two countries.
France is Vietnam’s fifth-largest trade partner in Europe, with bilateral trade turnover reaching $4.8 billion in 2023 and $3.4 billion in the first eight months of this year.
France is among the biggest ODA donors for Vietnam in Europe.
- Read More
Vietnam's construction giant Coteccons plans $53 mln bond issue
Vietnamese construction giant Coteccons (HoSE: CTD) plans to issue bonds worth up to VND1.4 trillion ($53.45 million) to the public this year as part of its 2025 capital mobilization plan, according to a company release.
Companies - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 8:12 pm GMT+7
Over $534 mln needed for central Vietnam city’s seaport infrastructure
Hue city in central Vietnam needs about VND14.05 trillion ($534.24 million) in investment for its seaport system during the 2021-2030 span, with approximately VND12.79 trillion ($488.05 million) for wharves.
Infrastructure - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 4:24 pm GMT+7
Ca Na LNG-fueled power project in central Vietnam extends bidding deadline
The bidding deadline for the Ca Na LNG-to-power project in south-central Vietnam's Khanh Hoa province has been extended to 2 p.m. on July 19, 2025.
Energy - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 4:06 pm GMT+7
USD price in Vietnam hits new peak as US, Vietnam reach agreement on trade deal framework
Vietnamese banks on Thursday raised the USD price to the central bank-regulated ceiling of VND26,345, 3.1% higher than at the beginning of the year.
Banking - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 3:47 pm GMT+7
Vietnam inaugurates first paper-based food packaging line
The first paper-based food packaging line in Vietnam applying Tetra Recart® technology was officially inaugurated in Son La province on Wednesday by Vietnam’s leading supplier of processed food, Dong Giao Foodstuff Export JSC (Doveco), and Sweden's Tetra Pak Group.
Companies - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 2:29 pm GMT+7
Toyota nears one-millionth vehicle sold in Vietnam
Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) delivered over 29,000 vehicles to Vietnamese customers in the first half of 2025, a 31% increase year-on-year, according to a company release on Wednesday.
Companies - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 2:24 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s Personal Income Tax Law overhaul expected in October
Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is finalizing draft revisions to the Personal Income Tax (PIT) Law, for parliament approval at its session in October.
Economy - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 1:44 pm GMT+7
Apple supplier Luxshare-ICT seeks recruitment support in central Vietnam
China’s Luxshare-ICT, a supplier to Apple, has asked authorities in Nghe An province for support in tackling labor recruitment challenges.
Companies - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 12:44 pm GMT+7
US agreement on 20% tariff for goods imported from Vietnam 'a success': expert
Reaching agreement with the U.S. on 20% tariff for goods imported from Vietnam and even 40% for transshipping is a success for the Southeast Asian country, said Ho Quoc Tuan, a senior lecturer of accounting & finance at University of Bristol, the UK.
Economy - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 9:55 am GMT+7
Malaysia diversifies trade partners to stay economically resilient
Malaysia’s economy remains resilient thanks to its long-term and comprehensive economic strategy, despite geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have raised concerns about the possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz and disruption to global energy supplies, according to the Ministry of Trade, Investment and Industry (MITI).
Southeast Asia - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 8:44 am GMT+7
Vietnam Airlines launches first direct air link between Vietnam and Italy
National-flag carrier Vietnam Airlines officially launched its first direct flight connecting Hanoi and Milan on Tuesday, establishing direct air link between Vietnam and Italy for the first time.
Travel - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 8:28 am GMT+7
Makara Capital Partners wants to mobilize $5-7 bln for investments in Vietnam: exec
Singapore's Makara Capital Partners is eyeing investment opportunities in Vietnam, including those in the biological and pharmaceutical industries and the International Financial Center project.
Economy - Thu, July 3, 2025 | 12:52 am GMT+7
Vietnam, US reach agreement on landmark trade deal framework
Vietnam's Party chief To Lam and U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday stated that they welcome the agreement reached by the two countries' negotiating teams on the Joint Vietnam-United States Statement on a Fair, Balanced, and Reciprocal Trade Agreement Framework.
Economy - Wed, July 2, 2025 | 11:28 pm GMT+7
Vietnam's ACV expects 17% profit drop, plans $1.52 bln investment in Long Thanh airport this year
State-owned Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), which operates 22 airports nationwide, expects its 2025 pre-tax profit to decline 17% year-on-year to VND10.53 trillion ($402.56 million) due to foreign exchange losses.
Companies - Wed, July 2, 2025 | 4:08 pm GMT+7
Two mega urban area projects in central Vietnam get greenlight
Two major urban projects in Quang Ngai province's Dung Quat Economic Zone, with a total investment of over VND54 trillion ($2.06 billion), have received in-principle approvals from Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.
Real Estate - Wed, July 2, 2025 | 4:02 pm GMT+7
Roadmap for cleaner fuel transition launched for Vietnam’s first oil refinery Dung Quat
Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR) and PV Gas D, a subsidiary of PV Gas, have signed an MoU on LNG trading principles, marking a significant step in BSR’s roadmap to transition from traditional fuels to cleaner alternatives at Dung Quat Oil Refinery.
Economy - Wed, July 2, 2025 | 3:52 pm GMT+7