This is President Lee Jae Myung’s first state visit to Vietnam in his new capacity and the first by a foreign head of state since the 16th National Assembly completed the consolidation of the State leadership apparatus.

Children from Hanoi lined both sides of the road inside the Presidential Palace grounds, waving the flags of the two countries to welcome President Lee Jae Myung, his spouse and the high-level RoK delegation.

A motorcade brought President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse into the Presidential Palace, where To Lam and his spouse welcomed them on the red carpet. The children then presented bouquets of flowers to the visiting leaders.

As welcoming music played, To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung stepped onto the podium of honour. Military bands played the national anthems of the two countries, while a 21-gun salute was fired from the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

The two leaders then left the podium, bowed to the military flag and reviewed the guard of honour of the Vietnam People’s Army. They subsequently introduced members of their high-level delegations attending the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung held talks, witnessed the signing of cooperation documents and met with the press.

Vietnam and the RoK officially established diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992. Over more than 30 years, bilateral ties have developed into a model partnership among the leading partnerships in the world.

Since upgrading ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022, political trust between the two countries has continued to be strengthened. The two sides have maintained relations across Party, Government and National Assembly channels, and promote high-level visits, exchanges and contacts. Various cooperation mechanisms and frameworks have developed across multiple fields and levels.

Economic and trade cooperation is a key pillar of bilateral ties and a highlight in Vietnam’s international economic cooperation. The RoK is currently Vietnam’s largest investor, second-largest source of tourists, second-largest provider of ODA, third-largest trading partner and third-largest labour market for Vietnamese workers.

The RoK is currently Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, with total registered capital reaching US$98.9 billion across 10,447 projects. It is also one of Vietnam’s leading trading partners, with bilateral trade hitting US$89.5 billion in 2025, and both sides are aiming for a more balanced trade value of US$150 billion by 2030.

Meanwhile, Vietnam remains a top priority partner for the RoK in ODA provision, receiving about 20% of its total aid. Over the past five years, the RoK has provided more than US$500 million in assistance to Vietnam, of which 90% is ODA loans and 10% is non-refundable aid.

On the basis of the very positive cooperation results achieved across all fields by the two countries over the past period, the state visit to Vietnam by the RoK President and his spouse is expected to further consolidate political trust between the two sides, while at the same time bolsterig cooperation in economics, trade, investment, science and technology, and development to a new level in line with their mutual needs and interests.

RoK President Lee Jae-myung begins state visit to Vietnam

VOV.VN - President Lee Jae-myung of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and First Lady arrived in Hanoi on April 21, beginning a state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse.

RoK President’s Vietnam visit to set long-term cooperation framework

VOV.VN - President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Lee Jae Myung and his spouse will pay a State visit to Vietnam from April 21 to 24 at the invitation of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse, with a view to shaping a long-term cooperation framework between the two nations.