Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing’s Vietnam visit is expected to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, agriculture and security, with both sides targeting $1 billion in two-way trade.
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing’s official visit to Vietnam from September 4 to 6 is expected to provide fresh momentum to the two countries’ Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership, with stronger economic, technology, infrastructure and security cooperation emerging as key priorities. The visit, at the invitation of Vietnamese President To Lam, is the first official trip by Min Aung Hlaing to Vietnam since Myanmar’s general election in January and formation of a new government in April 2026.
Vietnam and Myanmar established diplomatic relations in 1975 and upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership in 2017. Both countries are members of ASEAN and have maintained cooperation across political, economic, defence, security, cultural and people-to-people channels. Vietnam has also supported Myanmar during periods of crisis, including providing a rescue and relief team, medical supplies and financial assistance following the March 2025 earthquake.
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Economic cooperation is expected to feature prominently during the visit. At the 10th meeting of the Vietnam-Myanmar Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation in August, the two sides identified infrastructure, information technology, consumer goods manufacturing, agriculture and digital transformation as priority sectors. They also set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $1 billion. Two-way trade reached $336.28 million during the first six months of 2026, an increase of 26.3 percent year-on-year.
Investment is another important pillar. As of June 2026, Vietnamese companies had 107 valid investment projects in Myanmar with total registered capital of $1.4 billion. Major investments include Mytel’s telecommunications and digital infrastructure operations, HAGL Myanmar Center and THACO’s property and commercial activities, and BIDV’s banking presence. Vietnamese businesses are also exploring opportunities in agriculture, food processing, energy, logistics, finance and essential goods.
The two countries are also seeking deeper cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, telecommunications and electric vehicle manufacturing, alongside greater tourism, education and cultural exchanges. More direct air connections have been identified as another avenue to facilitate business and people-to-people links.
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Defence and security cooperation is expected to remain part of the broader partnership, covering military training, young-officer exchanges, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, bomb and mine clearance and military medicine. Vietnam has also stressed closer coordination with Myanmar through ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional mechanisms.
The visit comes as the two countries prepare to mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership in 2027. Vietnam sees the engagement as an opportunity to strengthen political trust, expand practical cooperation and support regional peace, stability and sustainable development through ASEAN.