Key facts
- Vietnam's President To Lam plans visits to Russia, France, the US, and Canada in September.
- The visits aim to deepen ties with major partners and address trade uncertainty.
- Lam will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron.
- He is scheduled to speak at the UN General Assembly in New York.
- The trips are part of Lam's extensive travel schedule since taking power in 2024.
Vietnam's President To Lam is planning an extensive international travel schedule this month, with visits to Russia, France, the United States, and Canada aimed at strengthening relationships with key partners amidst global trade uncertainties. These trips are particularly notable given the pace of high-profile overseas engagements for Lam, who assumed leadership in 2024.
Lam is slated to begin his tour in Russia on September 7, where he is expected to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Discussions are anticipated to focus on enhancing political trust, particularly in the energy, defense, and security sectors. Russia has historically been Vietnam's primary arms supplier and is involved in significant energy projects, including nuclear power and gas exploration in the South China Sea.
Following his visit to Russia, Lam is scheduled to travel to France. He is expected to attend the International Space Summit in Paris on September 9-10. French companies have shown interest in Vietnam's infrastructure and defense sectors, with past agreements signed in areas like space cooperation.
After a brief return to Vietnam, President Lam is expected to travel to the United States to address the UN General Assembly's high-level debate, which begins on September 21. The White House has indicated that President Donald Trump's schedule for that period is not yet finalized. Relations between the U.S. and Vietnam have faced strain due to trade imbalances, despite record Vietnamese exports to the U.S.
Concluding his international engagements for the month, Lam is expected to visit Canada starting September 24. The schedule for these visits has not been officially announced and remains subject to change.