Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Europe pin high hopes on top leader To Lam’s European tour

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam is paying a working trip to Denmark, the European Union and Belgium from October 19 - 25. The trip has raised expectations for stronger economic ties, with the Vietnamese business community in Europe looking for ways to attract high-quality European capital and technology to Vietnam while easing legal barriers to investment in the opposite direction.

Building on closer ties with Europe

Reflecting on recent high-level diplomatic engagements, many entrepreneurs have welcomed the continuity of efforts to strengthen Vietnam’s relations with European partners. The leader’s trip visit to the EU and Belgium follows his official visit to France in September 2026, reinforcing confidence in the prospects for deeper cooperation.

Tran Huy Hoang, chairman of the Vietnam Global Connect Vietnam France (GCVF), highlighted the strategic significance of this continuity.

“What I find particularly encouraging is the consistency of these recent visits. Just over a month ago, the Party General Secretary and State President paid an official visit to France, which delivered concrete results. I hope the visits to Denmark, the European Union and Belgium will achieve similar success,” he said.

“These are not isolated events, but part of a continuous strategic approach that shows Vietnam’s determination to deepen its ties with Europe and strengthen its role as a bridge between ASEAN and the EU.”

Alongside closer political and economic ties, Hoang expressed hope that the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) would soon complete its ratification process, providing a stronger legal framework for protecting investors’ interests and improving the security of cross-border investments.

He identified artificial intelligence, innovation, green transition and green logistics as promising areas for future cooperation.

“Once this legal framework enters into force, I believe Vietnamese and European businesses will benefit from clearer protection and support for their investments,” he told Paris-based VOV correspondents.

From Paris, he also hoped Vietnamese intellectuals, experts and entrepreneurs across Europe would play a greater role in connecting knowledge, technology and business opportunities with Vietnam.

Unlocking investment in both directions

Beyond attracting high-quality European investment into Vietnam, Vietnamese entrepreneurs are also keen to tap the potential for domestic companies and investment funds to expand into international markets.

Nguyen Dang Chuan, co-founder and chief technology officer of Paris-based start-up Rizlum, described the visit as an opportunity to translate the Vietnam-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into practical cooperation, particularly in investment, technology transfer and knowledge exchange.

“With Vietnam moving towards a growth model driven increasingly by innovation and productivity, the priority is not simply to attract more capital, but to develop projects that facilitate technology transfer, build human resources and connect Vietnamese businesses with global value chains,” he said.

Despite interest from investment funds in Vietnam, legal procedures for overseas investment remain a major obstacle for start-ups seeking to establish or expand their presence in Europe.

Chuan recalled his recent return to Vietnam where he discussed potential cooperation with domestic partners and investment funds. While investors expressed interest, many remained uncertain about the legal framework and procedures for investing in a start-up in France and other European markets.

He hoped the visit would help bring about practical measures to address these concerns.

“I hope the visit will lead to stronger business connections, clearer legal guidance and practical investment support, enabling Vietnam-Europe relations to generate concrete opportunities for both sides,” he stressed.

The expectations expressed by Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Europe reflect their confidence in the future of Vietnam-EU cooperation. By improving investment frameworks, facilitating technology transfer and making better use of the Vietnamese community’s expertise and networks abroad, the visit could help create new opportunities for businesses on both sides and support Vietnam’s sustainable development.

Vietnam looks to innovation and international partnerships for next development phase

VOV.VN - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam has outlined Vietnam’s development vision for a new era, with science and technology, innovation, green transition and human capital at its core, alongside stronger international cooperation to turn these priorities into tangible results.