Story perspectives

Vietnam Boosts Ties with Netherlands, Trade With Australia Hits $14 B

8/12/2026

Summary

Vietnam, Netherlands Strengthen

Vietnam and the Netherlands raised their partnership after Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Prime Minister Rob Jetten held a phone call.
They urged Dutch parliament to ratify EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, use EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, implement the 2010 climate-change and 2014 sustainable agriculture partnerships, finalize semiconductor R&D with ASML, and increase science scholarships.
They announced visa simplification and exemption for Dutch tourists, flights from June 2026, faster EVIPA ratification, and reaffirmed UNCLOS 1982.

Summary

Vietnam Trade Surge

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Australia topped $14 billion in 2024 and 2025, up from under $10 billion in 2020.
Vietnam’s exports to Australia rose from $3.6 billion in 2020 to $6.8 billion in 2025, cutting the deficit to under $400 million.
During To Lam’s visit the countries signed an agriculture and sustainable development MOU and recorded Australian investment of over $2 billion and Vietnamese investment of about $600 million, mainly in high-tech agriculture.

History

Historical Context

After the United States lifted its embargo in 1995, Hanoi and Washington signed a Bilateral Trade Agreement in July 2000, effective December 2001. The pact raised trade from $200 million in 1994 to over $4 billion by 2003 and to $30 billion annually, prompting Vietnam’s ASEAN entry (1995) and EU-Vietnam FTA (2020). Today, leaders Le Minh Hung and Rob Jetten pursue deeper EU ties, and To Lam’s Australian visit echoes the trade-opening drive.

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Vietnam, Netherlands Strengthen

Vietnam and the Netherlands raised their partnership after Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Prime Minister Rob Jetten held a phone call.
They urged Dutch parliament to ratify EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, use EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, implement the 2010 climate-change and 2014 sustainable agriculture partnerships, finalize semiconductor R&D with ASML, and increase science scholarships.
They announced visa simplification and exemption for Dutch tourists, flights from June 2026, faster EVIPA ratification, and reaffirmed UNCLOS 1982.

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