Min Aung Hlaing Ends Three-Day State Visit to Vietnam, Agrees Broader Defense and Economic Ties

Myanmar's military-appointed president, Min Aung Hlaing, wrapped up a three-day state visit to Vietnam that combined political diplomacy with business engagement. The visit is part of a wider effort by Yangon to rebuild international relationships and attract investment following years of domestic conflict.

Min Aung Hlaing met Vietnam's senior leadership, including President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. State statements and Vietnamese media coverage highlighted a dual focus: bolstering defense and security cooperation, and expanding economic ties.

Vietnam and Myanmar elevated defense and security to a core pillar of the relationship. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in: military training, exchanges between junior officers, search-and-rescue operations, disaster response, and information sharing and coordination to combat crime. The Vietnamese statement framed this as part of practical collaboration on national development and economic security.

Economic agenda and business meetings

Economic and trade issues featured prominently. Min Aung Hlaing addressed the Myanmar–Vietnam Business Forum and urged greater Vietnamese investment in Myanmar. He identified priority sectors for cooperation: telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, tourism and human resources development. The Myanmar delegation also held talks with major Vietnamese companies, notably VinFast and Viettel, the latter operating Myanmar's Mytel telecom network.

Bilateral trade has declined since 2020, cited figures show two-way trade at $853 million in 2020 and down to $590 million by 2025. The visit aims to reverse that trend through targeted investment and commercial partnerships.

Concrete outcomes reported so far are agreements to expand practical defense cooperation and commitments to step up investment and business ties. Meetings with VinFast and Viettel signal interest in technology and telecom collaboration. The two governments also publicly committed to preventing the use of their territories for hostile activities against the other, mirroring similar assurances exchanged between ASEAN partners.

Look for follow-up on investment pledges or memoranda of understanding with Vietnamese firms, operational details of the agreed defense exchanges, and whether Vietnam's engagement affects Myanmar's standing with other ASEAN member states. Cambodia was scheduled as a subsequent visit for Min Aung Hlaing, indicating continued diplomatic outreach.