Although Viet Nam and Myanmar officially established diplomatic relations on May 28, 1975, ties between the two countries and peoples, both located in mainland Southeast Asia, go back much further, shaped in part by longstanding trade exchanges between their peoples.
Myanmar was among the earliest countries to establish friendly ties with Viet Nam. Viet Nam opened a representative branch in Yangon in 1947, and the two countries established consulates general a decade later, in 1957. Myanmar Prime Minister U Nu visited Viet Nam in 1954, while President Ho Chi Minh paid a visit to Myanmar in 1958.
Despite many difficulties facing the country at that time, the Myanmar Government and people actively supported the Vietnamese people in their struggle for national liberation. Following the liberation of the South and national reunification, the two countries upgraded their consular relations to ambassadorial-level diplomatic ties on May 28, 1975.
Over more than five decades and through many historical changes, Viet Nam-Myanmar relations have been maintained and steadily strengthened. A remarkable milestone came in 2017, when the two countries established a Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership.
In recent years, bilateral relations have continued to develop through exchanges at various levels, helping promote cooperation and expand economic ties. Bilateral trade reached USD 336 million in the first six months of 2026, up 26 percent from the same period in 2025. Viet Nam currently ranks seventh among foreign investors in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s major political parties highly regard Viet Nam’s position and approach. The country attaches importance to Viet Nam’s growing role, position, and development achievements, viewing Viet Nam as a reliable partner that has consistently stood ready to share difficulties. Viet Nam’s support for Myanmar in recovering from the 2025 earthquake was a clear example.
Myanmar also sees Viet Nam as a partner with considerable potential for cooperation, particularly in highly complementary areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, information and communications, infrastructure, essential goods production, and agriculture. These are sectors in which Vietnamese enterprises have strengths that align closely with Myanmar’s socio-economic development needs.
Myanmar also hopes Viet Nam will continue to support, help facilitate dialogue with interested partners, and share its experience in post-war reconstruction and development.
Viet Nam’s hosting of the official visit by President Min Aung Hlaing and his spouse further demonstrates the country’s consistent foreign policy of peace, cooperation and development, as well as the multilateralization and diversification of its external relations. It also reflects the importance Viet Nam attaches to ties with traditional friends, including Myanmar.
The visit also underscores Viet Nam’s proactive, active, and responsible role in contributing to ASEAN’s common efforts to maintain regional peace, stability, and development and to build a united, cohesive, and resilient ASEAN Community.
On this basis, the first official visit to Viet Nam by President Min Aung Hlaing since Myanmar completed its general elections and formed a new government is expected to be a success.
The visit is expected to further strengthen the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership between the two countries, deepen political trust, and promote broader bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
Translated by Minh Anh