French president Macron to visit Vietnam

The visit will take place from May 25 to 27, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Macron, 47, first became president of France in May 2017 and was re-elected in April 2022. He has held several important positions, including finance inspector at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, Deputy General Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic, and Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs. He is known for his affinity for Vietnam and appreciation of Vietnamese cuisine.

Vietnam and France established diplomatic relations on April 12, 1973. The two countries became Strategic Partners in 2013 and elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024. France is the first EU country to hold the highest-level partnership with Vietnam.

France is Vietnam’s fifth-largest European trade partner, with trade turnover reaching US$5.42 billion in 2024—an increase of 12.9% compared to 2023. France ranks 16th among 147 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 700 active projects totaling US$3.95 billion in registered capital. Vietnam currently has 20 investment projects in France with total registered capital of US$38.93 million.

France is also Vietnam’s leading bilateral European official development aid (ODA) donor, providing concessional loans and aid amounting to €16.7 billion (US$18.8 billion) between 1993 and 2022. This support has focused on infrastructure, technology transfer, agriculture, green industry, and finance. Vietnam ranks second among countries benefiting from French ODA.

The Vietnamese community in France currently numbers about 350,000 people.