Myanmar’s military-appointed President Min Aung Hlaing has wrapped up a three-day diplomatic visit to Vietnam, securing agreements to boost bilateral ties across defense, trade, and technology. The former general's trip, which began on Friday, is part of a broader diplomatic push to strengthen relations with regional neighbors and normalize Myanmar's standing within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
During the visit, Min Aung Hlaing met with top Vietnamese leaders, including President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. A primary outcome of the talks between Lam and the Myanmar leader was the elevation of defense and security cooperation to a core pillar of their bilateral relationship. According to a Vietnamese government statement, the two nations agreed to expand military training, exchange young officers, coordinate on search-and-rescue and disaster response efforts, and enhance information sharing to combat crime.
Additionally, both countries pledged not to allow any individual or organization to use their respective territories to conduct activities against the other. This reciprocal security arrangement mirrors a similar pact To Lam established during a visit to Thailand in May.
Economic collaboration was also a major focus of the state visit. Trade between Vietnam and Myanmar has declined significantly in recent years as Myanmar has grappled with ongoing civil conflict. Two-way trade plummeted from $853 million in 2020 to $590 million in 2025. Addressing the Myanmar-Viet Nam Business Forum in Hanoi on the final day of his visit, Min Aung Hlaing urged Vietnamese firms to increase their investment. He highlighted potential areas for expanded cooperation, including telecommunications, digital technology, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, tourism, and human resources development.
To advance these economic goals, the Myanmar leader held discussions with major Vietnamese corporations. These included the electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast and the military-run telecommunications giant Viettel. Viettel currently operates Mytel, which is one of the primary telecom operators in Myanmar.
During a meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung congratulated Myanmar on its governance outcomes under Min Aung Hlaing's leadership, according to Vietnamese state media. Hung also affirmed that Vietnam supports the Myanmar government's ongoing measures to foster stability, reconciliation, dialogue, economic growth, and improved living conditions.
Vietnam marks the eighth country Min Aung Hlaing has visited since assuming office in April, and his third ASEAN destination, with a trip to Cambodia scheduled for later this week. His previous international travels have taken him to India, China, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, accompanied by large political and business delegations aimed at rebuilding diplomatic ties and attracting foreign capital.
A key objective of these efforts is restoring Myanmar's standing in ASEAN. The regional bloc has barred Myanmar from its summits since late 2021 due to the military government's refusal to implement the Five-Point Consensus, which demands an immediate end to violence, humanitarian access, and inclusive dialogue among all parties to the conflict. Myanmar has rejected the consensus but continues to foster ties with sympathetic ASEAN members to ease its reintegration.
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Myanmar’s government has rejected the Consensus, in both word and deed, while cultivating relations with those ASEAN member states most sympathetic to its reintegration into the 11-nation bloc.
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