Vietnam's President To Lam (R) and Myanmar's President Min Aung
Vietnam's President To Lam (R) and Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing shake hands at the National Assembly House in Hanoi on September 5, 2026. Quang Nguyen / AFP via Getty Images

KEY POINTS

  • Vietnam and Myanmar elevated defence and security cooperation to a "pillar" of bilateral relations during talks in Hanoi
  • The visit marks Min Aung Hlaing's first official trip to Vietnam since becoming Myanmar's president in April
  • Bilateral trade has collapsed from $853 million in 2020 to just $335 million in the first half of 2026

Vietnam and Myanmar agreed Saturday to deepen defence and security cooperation, elevating the sector to a pillar of bilateral relations as Vietnamese leader To Lam hosted Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in Hanoi for the general's first official visit to the country as head of state.

The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in military training, exchanges between young officers, search-and-rescue operations and disaster response, while stepping up information sharing and coordination against transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking and online fraud, according to a government statement. Both sides also reaffirmed a commitment not to allow individuals or organizations to use either country's territory for activities against the other.

"Vietnam stands ready to share its experience in national development, ensuring economic security and fostering sustainable growth," Lam told Min Aung Hlaing during the talks, according to the statement.

Rebuilding Regional Ties

The visit is the latest step in Min Aung Hlaing's broader push to normalize relations with fellow Southeast Asian nations and attract foreign investment, a diplomatic offensive he has ramped up since being sworn in as Myanmar's president in April, following an election critics say was designed to cement the military's hold on power. That outreach follows years of strained regional relationships after Min Aung Hlaing ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in a February 2021 coup while serving as army chief.

Vietnam has long maintained defense ties with Myanmar, including through Viettel, Vietnam's military-run telecom group, which holds a stake in Mytel, one of Myanmar's largest telecom operators. The two governments also agreed Saturday to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation, identifying high-tech agriculture, food processing, telecommunications, information technology, digital transformation, energy and transport infrastructure as priority sectors. The two sides said they would pursue more frequent high-level exchanges and make fuller use of existing cooperation mechanisms to substantively deepen their Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership.

The leaders also pledged closer coordination within ASEAN and Mekong subregional frameworks, and reaffirmed support for peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

Trade Ties Have Weakened

Even as defense cooperation deepens, economic ties between the two countries have eroded sharply. Bilateral trade fell from $853 million in 2020 to $590 million in 2025, and stood at just $335 million in the first half of 2026, according to figures Min Aung Hlaing shared with Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son during the visit.

Ahead of Saturday's formal talks, Min Aung Hlaing toured a VinFast electric-vehicle factory in northern Vietnam, along with facilities run by telecoms group Viettel, underscoring Myanmar's interest in expanding cooperation in technology and industrial development. He is also expected to attend a business forum with members of his cabinet during the three-day visit.

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