Thailand’s King to pay State visit to Vietnam next week

The visit is being made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press communique on September 10.

The visit comes as Vietnam and Thailand celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, with bilateral ties gaining fresh momentum following their elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2025.

Vietnam-Thailand ties enter a new phase after 50 years

Vietnam and Thailand established diplomatic relations in 1976. In 2013, the two countries established a Strategic Partnership, providing a framework for cooperation across a wide range of areas. In May 2025, the two sides upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, opening a new phase of broader and deeper cooperation.

After five decades, Vietnam-Thailand relations have continued to develop positively, underpinned by growing political trust, dynamic economic cooperation and increasingly close people-to-people ties. Leaders of the two countries have described bilateral relations as being at their best stage yet.

Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the two countries are promoting cooperation in defence, security, economy, trade, investment, connectivity, science and technology, digital transformation, the green economy, energy, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They are also strengthening coordination within ASEAN and other regional cooperation mechanisms.

Boosting economic cooperation and connectivity

Thailand is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam is Thailand’s second largest trading partner in the regional bloc. The two countries are working to strengthen economic connectivity, expand trade and investment, reduce trade barriers and facilitate greater market access for each other’s goods.

The two sides have set a near-term target of raising bilateral trade to US$25 billion, and are working toward more ambitious targets in the longer term and seeking more balanced and sustainable trade. New areas of cooperation, including science and technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, the digital economy, the green economy, a just energy transition and innovation, are also being advanced.

Alongside economic cooperation, the two countries are working to strengthen connectivity in transport, logistics, aviation and tourism, and promote links between Vietnam, Thailand and the wider Greater Mekong Subregion.

Notably, on May 28, 2026, Vietnam and Thailand exchanged the Plan of Action on Implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the 2026-2031 period, along with cooperation documents covering education, science and technology, and aviation. The documents provide an important basis for translating the partnership’s broad orientations into concrete cooperation in the new phase.

Strengthening people-to-people ties, regional cooperation 

Vietnam and Thailand are also continuing to strengthen defence and security cooperation and coordination in combating transnational crime. They are enhancing coordination on regional and international issues.

The two sides have agreed to maintain exchanges and contacts at various levels and through different channels. They step up people-to-people exchanges, particularly among younger generations, and expand cooperation in education, culture and tourism.

Within ASEAN, Vietnam and Thailand are working together to promote peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and uphold ASEAN centrality.

The State visit by King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana comes at a particularly significant time, as Vietnam and Thailand mark 50 years of diplomatic relations and advance their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The visit is expected to deepen mutual understanding, trust and people-to-people ties while giving fresh momentum to bilateral relations in the years ahead.

Strategic synergy in Vietnam-Thailand high-tech agriculture

VOV.VN - Vietnam and Thailand share marked structural similarities in agricultural conditions and core strengths, alongside distinct complementary advantages in high-tech farming. These intersecting capacities provide ample scope for both nations to deepen cooperation, pool expertise, and jointly promote modern agriculture.