HCMC — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra arrived in Hanoi today, May 15, beginning her two-day official visit to Vietnam.
This is her first trip to the country since she took office as PM of Thailand in August last year.
Shinawatra will co-chair the fourth Vietnam–Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The meeting is aimed at reviewing bilateral cooperation and setting directions for future cooperation.
The visit comes as the two countries prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026. Vietnam and Thailand have increased high-level exchanges in recent years. The two prime ministers previously met at the ASEAN Summit in Laos in October 2024.
Thailand is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade reached US$20.2 billion in 2024, up 6.6% from the previous year. In the first quarter of 2025, trade rose 9.4% year-on-year to US$5.16 billion. Both sides aim to raise trade to US$25 billion.
Thailand has 761 active investment projects in Vietnam with combined registered capital of US$14.8 billion, ranking ninth among all foreign investors and second among ASEAN countries. Vietnam has 21 investment projects in Thailand worth a total of US$34.2 million.
The two governments have agreed to advance cooperation under the “Three Connects” strategy, covering supply chains, business and local partnerships, and sustainable development plans.
The leaders are also expected to sign cooperation documents during her visit. Areas of collaboration include defense, labor, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
Thailand is promoting a “Six Countries, One Destination” initiative to connect tourism across Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
The joint cabinet mechanism was held in 2004, 2012, and 2015. According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung, the meeting reflects both sides’ commitment to resolving issues that arise and strengthening bilateral ties.
