Tổng Bí thư, Chủ tịch nước Tô Lâm cùng Phu nhân lên đường thăm cấp Nhà nước tới Nga

The state visit to Moscow beginning on Monday, 7 September 2026, marks the first time since 1991 that a top Vietnamese party and state leader has travelled to Russia holding both positions simultaneously. This historic diplomatic milestone bridges a 75-year tradition of bilateral ties, yet it arrives framed by explicit commercial metrics and quantitative growth targets, according to coverage by Tiền Phong and Báo Mới. While Russian state media and Ambassador Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko emphasize a medium-term trade target of $15 billion and a 14% increase in trade during the first half of the year, domestic Vietnamese reports via Vov frame the journey around mobilizing international resources to support domestic growth targets under the 14th National Party Congress foreign policy.

Accompanying General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and his spouse Ngô Phương Ly is an extensive high-level delegation. The roster includes top party and state officials tasked with securing economic and technological resources, bridging historical energy partnerships with modern digital and aerospace frameworks.

Related YouTube video

The high-level delegation reflects an explicit mandate to secure institutional, financial, and technological resources. Reported by Voh and Người Quan Sát, the official entourage features prominent Politburo and Central Committee members, including Nguyễn Duy Ngọc, Trưởng Ban Tổ chức Trung ương; Trịnh Văn Quyết, Trưởng Ban Tuyên giáo Trung ương; Nguyễn Thanh Nghị, Trưởng Ban Chính sách, chiến lược Trung ương; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Phan Văn Giang; Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung; and Hanoi Party Secretary Trần Đức Thắng.

Economic and technical portfolios are directly represented by Minister of Finance Ngô Văn Tuấn, Minister of Industry and Trade Lê Mạnh Hùng, Minister of Science and Technology Vũ Hải Quân, Minister of Education and Training Hoàng Minh Sơn, State Bank of Vietnam Governor Phạm Đức Ấn, and Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology President Trần Hồng Thái. Supporting administrative infrastructure is managed by Chánh Văn phòng Trung ương Đảng Nguyễn Hải Ninh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyễn Khắc Định, Presidential Office Chief Lê Khánh Hải, and Assistant to the General Secretary and President Tô Ân Xô, alongside Vietnamese Ambassadors Đặng Minh Khôi in Russia and Trịnh Đức Hải in France.

Bridging Traditional Energy Pillars and New Commercial Frontiers

The economic architecture underpinning the visit relies heavily on historical foundations while attempting to pivot toward new industrial sectors. According to Tiền Phong, Ambassador Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko highlighted the nearly 10-year enforcement of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as a vital stabilizing mechanism amid complex global conditions. Russian state news agency TASS and RIA Novosti point to the joint venture Vietsovpetro — active on Vietnam's continental shelf since 1981 — as the enduring template for energy cooperation.

Yet, both delegations face the challenge of translating high-level political trust into tangible commercial diversification. Discussions in Moscow target emerging sectors beyond traditional oil, gas, and security cooperation. Both governments are actively studying the feasibility of supplying Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Vietnam alongside the construction of necessary import infrastructure. Furthermore, bilateral talks encompass maritime logistics, railway development, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, digital technology, and space exploration.

This industrial expansion intersects directly with human and consumer metrics, particularly tourism and labor. Russian tourist arrivals to Vietnam are nearing the 1 million threshold, establishing Vietnam as one of the top three preferred destinations for Russian travelers. This tourism surge is supported by direct infrastructure growth; during 2025, airlines opened 31 new flights across 15 routes connecting the two countries, directly impacting hospitality workers and service providers in coastal economic hubs.

Parallel Technological Diplomacy in Paris

Following the conclusion of meetings in Moscow, the presidential delegation moves to France from 7-12/9/2026, answering an invitation from President Emmanuel Macron, as reported by VOV. This leg of the tour includes attendance at the Paris Aerospace Summit.

Domestic analyses emphasize that the French itinerary is designed to connect European scientific innovation and advanced technology directly with Vietnam's domestic development strategy. By engaging French institutions and industrial partners in strategic technology sectors, the state visit seeks to mobilize external research and capital resources. This complements the broader business and trade strategy of utilizing presidential diplomacy to secure high-tech partnerships, supporting the state's overarching growth targets.

As discussions proceed inside the Kremlin between General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and Russian President Vladimir Putin, attention turns to the concrete bilateral documents and economic agreements slated for formal adoption before the delegation departs for France, with state media outlets including Komsomolskaya Pravda and Vesti anticipating immediate formal announcements.