Full Breakdown
Vietnam’s Leader To Lam Undertakes Dual State Visits to Russia and France
9/8/2026, 11:26:39 AM
Core Event: Dual Visits Target Strategic Partnerships and High-Tech Cooperation
General Secretary and President To Lam travelled to Moscow and Paris in early September 2024, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin and President Emmanuel Macron. The itinerary combined talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, and French President Emmanuel Macron, followed by To Lam’s participation in the International Space Summit in Paris. Observers say the trips are designed to reinforce Vietnam’s “bamboo diplomacy” – securing political backing for its South China Sea claims while mobilising technology, investment and scientific cooperation toward a high-income status by 2045.
Background & Context
Vietnam’s foreign policy after the 14th Party Congress stresses strategic autonomy, multilateralism and diversification of partners. Ties with Russia were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012 and with France to a similar framework in 2024. Recent protests over Chinese land-reclamation at Antelope Reef and Yagong Island have heightened the need for diplomatic support. To Lam’s dual visits are the first by a Vietnamese Party-State leader to Russia since 1991 and his second official trip to France.
Timeline
- September 7 – Arrival at Vnukovo International Airport; welcome ceremony with Russian honor guard, followed by meetings with Gennady Zyuganov and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association.
- Early September – Travel to Paris; attendance at the International Space Summit on September 9-10.
- Mid-September – Talks with President Macron on aerospace, railways, defence and digital transformation.
Data & Statistics
- Two-way trade between Vietnam and Russia remains modest at under US$5 billion, with 2025 figures at US$4.8 billion and a 6.4 % year-on-year rise in the first five months of 2026.
- Vietnam’s VNREDSat-1 satellite, launched on May 7 2013, entered its 14th year of operation in 2026, far exceeding its original five-year design life.
- The Space Summit expects participation from roughly 120 international delegations, including heads of state and leading space agencies.
Official Statements & Responses
- Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko highlighted potential LNG supplies, low-carbon energy projects and the implementation of a 2026 intergovernmental nuclear-power agreement.
- Alexander Vuving (Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies) noted that To Lam will likely seek backing on the South China Sea, while Nguyen Khac Giang (ISEAS) stressed Russia’s role in oil, gas and nuclear-plant maintenance.
- Ha Hoang Hop (VietKnow) warned that the Russian leg “carries optics risk” amid the Ukraine war but recognised the leader’s “personal diplomacy” as a means to mobilise capital for Vietnam’s knowledge-economy pivot.
On-the-Ground Reports
He addressed the Vietnamese community in Russia, emphasizing the need to protect their rights and to harness their expertise for national development.
Why It Matters / Impact
The visits aim to secure diplomatic backing for Vietnam’s maritime claims while unlocking high-tech partnerships that could accelerate the shift from low-cost manufacturing to a knowledge-driven economy. Russian talks on nuclear power, LNG and AI complement French discussions on aerospace, semiconductors and joint satellite development, supporting Vietnam’s 2045 high-income ambition.
What’s Next
Following the September itinerary, To Lam will deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly later in the month and hold further talks in the United States, Canada and Brussels. The outcomes of the Moscow and Paris meetings are expected to shape subsequent cooperation agreements in energy, space, railways and digital infrastructure.
