Europe in 2025 continued to present a mixed picture, with geopolitical uncertainties persisting, particularly the complex developments of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, while prospects for renewed diplomatic engagement have gradually emerged. Economically, the European Union posted modest recovery, with growth estimated at around 1.4%, unemployment remaining stable, and energy prices and inflation easing, though still at relatively high levels.

Against this backdrop, many European countries have accelerated efforts to reshape their growth models, identifying science and technology, innovation, and green and digital transformation as key drivers to enhance competitiveness in an increasingly fragmented global economy.

Vietnam, meanwhile, despite facing external headwinds and severe climate-related impacts, maintained strong growth momentum in 2025, achieved new export records and continued to consolidate its image as a stable, reliable and attractive destination for international partners, including Europe. Cooperation between the two sides has entered a more dynamic, substantive and in-depth phase.

High-level exchanges create new impetus

A key highlight of 2025 was the sharp increase in high-level exchanges across Party, State, Government and parliamentary channels, with the number of visits nearly doubling compared with 2024.

Vietnam hosted 12 visits by senior European leaders, including the King of Belgium, the Presidents of France, Hungary and Lithuania, the Prime Ministers of Russia, Spain and Kyrgyzstan, as well as five Speakers or Presidents of parliaments.

Top Vietnamese leaders paid seven visits to Europe, including several with historic significance, such as the first-ever official visit by a Vietnamese leader to Estonia since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and official visits by Party General Secretary To Lam to Russia to attend events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over fascism, as well as to Belarus, Bulgaria and Nordic and Northwestern European countries including the United Kingdom and Finland.

Through these exchanges, Vietnam upgraded relations with nine European countries in 2025, underscoring the growing level of political trust and expanding strategic space for cooperation.

Relations between Vietnam and major European political parties and influential political forces also made tangible progress. Five European political parties participated in Vietnam’s major national celebrations, while high-level theoretical dialogues with Germany’s Left Party and Social Democratic Party contributed to strengthening political depth and strategic confidence.

Trade and investment remain core pillars

Five years after its entry into force, the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) continues to demonstrate strong effectiveness, making Vietnam the EU’s largest trading partner within ASEAN, while the EU is Vietnam’s fourth largest trading partner. In the first 10 months of 2025, two-way trade reached nearly US$61 billion, up 8.4% year on year.

Progress toward the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) also accelerated, with Cyprus, Poland and Germany completing ratification in 2025, bringing the agreement closer to full entry into force.

European enterprises remain among Vietnam’s most important sources of high-quality foreign direct investment, with projects concentrated in manufacturing and processing industries, infrastructure, logistics, finance and banking, high technology and sustainable agriculture.

The European business community continues to rate Vietnam’s investment and business environment highly, particularly improvements in institutions, administrative procedures, digital transformation, infrastructure development and human resource quality. Several major European groups have expanded their presence in Vietnam, including Denmark’s LEGO Group.

Many cooperation projects between European firms and Vietnamese localities in energy transition, green finance, green infrastructure and climate change adaptation are being implemented, supporting Vietnam’s commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. European investment is expected to bring not only capital flows but also advanced technologies and sustainable development models.

Science, technology and innovation as a new pillar

Science, technology and innovation have emerged as a new pillar of Vietnam–Europe cooperation.

In 2025, Vietnam signed multiple cooperation agreements with partners such as Russia, France, Sweden, Estonia and Central Asian countries, reflecting strong European support for Vietnam’s development orientation that places science, technology and innovation at the centre of growth.

Priority areas include digital transformation, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology and quantum technologies, in which Europe has strengths and Vietnam has growing demand.

Cooperation is being implemented in a practical manner with the direct participation of local authorities, enterprises, experts, research institutes and universities from both sides, contributing to Vietnam’s modernisation, productivity growth and competitiveness.

Stronger culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges

2025 saw a wide range of activities marking major anniversaries, including 75 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia and between Vietnam and Central and Eastern European countries, 50 years of Vietnam–Germany relations, and 35 years of Vietnam–EU relations.

For the first time, Vietnam Day was held at Moscow’s Red Square, attracting a record number of visitors.

European countries also organised numerous high-profile cultural performances in Vietnam, including concerts by Germany’s Hessen Chamber Orchestra, Austria’s Vienna concert series, Russia’s Swan Lake ballet, Poland’s OSP Nadarzyn Orchestra gala, and Bulgaria cultural music nights.

Direct air routes launched in 2025 connecting Vietnam with Milan (Italy), Munich (Germany) and Copenhagen (Denmark) have contributed to a surge in European interest in Vietnam, helping the country welcome more than 20 million international visitors in 2025.

Toward a higher-level partnership from 2026

Looking ahead to 2026, Vietnam and Europe aim to further enhance traditional areas of cooperation while expanding into new fields such as green transition, digital transformation, renewable energy, green finance, high-quality human resource development and aerospace.

Both sides will continue to maintain high-level exchanges, fully utilise existing cooperation frameworks, improve the implementation of free trade agreements such as the EVFTA, the UK–Vietnam FTA and the FTA with the Eurasian Economic Union, and work toward the early ratification of EVIPA by remaining EU member states.

Vietnam also seeks closer coordination with European partners at multilateral forums to promote multilateralism, respect for international law, free trade and freedom of navigation, in the shared interests of peace, stability and sustainable development.

Vietnam considers Europe a key partner and companion in its new development era and is committed to working with European partners to elevate cooperation to a new height from the first year of the 14th National Party Congress term.

Vietnam, EU set to elevate ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Ambassador

The relationship between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) has developed into a deep and comprehensive partnership and is now among the strongest, broadest and most substantive the EU maintains in the region, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said.