For the first time in over a decade, a Vietnamese Party General Secretary is making an official visit to the United Kingdom, marking a pivotal moment for both nations as they celebrate the 15th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership. General Secretary To Lam’s trip, set for October 28 to 30, 2025, comes at the invitation of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and is packed with both symbolism and substance, aiming to deepen a multifaceted relationship that has blossomed in recent years.
According to Vietnam News Agency and Nhan Dan, this visit is more than a diplomatic formality. It’s a rare opportunity for both sides to exchange views and reach consensus on how to further elevate their bilateral ties. The timing is significant: it’s been twelve years since a Vietnamese Party chief last visited the UK, and the two countries are now celebrating a decade and a half of increasingly robust cooperation under the Strategic Partnership established in 2010.
The agenda reflects the breadth of shared interests. General Secretary Lam is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Starmer and meet with UK Parliament leaders. These high-level discussions will focus on strengthening political trust and improving cooperation across a range of traditional and emerging sectors—trade, investment, education, science and technology, finance, high technology, strategic infrastructure, green energy, and sustainable development.
Hung, Vietnam’s ambassador to the UK, emphasized the visit’s importance, stating, "This will enhance political trust and improve the effectiveness of cooperation in traditional areas such as trade and investment, education and training, and science and technology, while helping expand ties into new fields where the UK has strengths and which align with Viet Nam’s development needs, including finance, high technology, strategic infrastructure, green energy, and sustainable development."
One of the highlights of the visit will be a keynote speech by General Secretary Lam at a high-level economic conference attended by major British businesses. The event aims to boost collaboration in finance, banking, energy, science and technology, and green development. Notably, Lam will also address the University of Oxford—one of the world’s premier research and training centers—where he is expected to outline his vision for the Vietnam-UK relationship and Vietnam’s innovation-driven development in what’s being called the “Era of the Nation’s Rise.”
But it’s not all about government-to-government ties. The visit will also see new cooperation documents signed in areas ranging from politics and diplomacy to economy, trade, science and technology, green transition, and sustainable development. Numerous collaboration agreements between universities and businesses are set to be inked, opening up significant opportunities in education, research, finance, banking, and healthcare—fields where the UK excels and which dovetail with Vietnam’s priorities.
Trade and investment are at the heart of the relationship. According to the UK government’s statistics, bilateral trade in the four quarters to the end of the first quarter of 2025 reached 9 billion GBP (over 12 billion USD), representing a more than 30% increase from the previous year and more than double the figure from 2011. The two countries are striving to push this number even higher, with ambitions to soon exceed 10 billion GBP in two-way trade. Currently, Vietnam is the UK’s 34th largest trading partner, while the UK is Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner in Europe.
British researcher Kyril Whittaker, a member of the Communist Party of Britain, noted in an interview with Vietnam News Agency, "It can be said that ever since the start of relations between the two countries in 1973, relations have continuously expanded to the benefit of both countries. The strategic partnership the two countries signed in 2010 have seen their cooperation further expanded than had been done in previous decades."
The economic ties are reinforced by significant UK investment in Vietnam. As of 2024, the UK had invested in 587 projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of nearly 4.46 billion USD. These investments span finance and banking, information technology, manufacturing, renewable energy, and services such as education, healthcare, transport, and real estate.
Education, in particular, stands out as a bright spot. Around 15,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying at universities, colleges, and schools across the UK. The ambassador highlighted the need to "expand academic exchange programmes, develop interdisciplinary research projects, and organise specialised seminars to share knowledge and practical experiences." Enhancing the training of high-quality human resources through joint training and student exchanges is seen as crucial for keeping pace in the global era of technology and innovation.
Cultural links have also flourished. Each year, the Vietnamese community in the UK showcases their food, culture, and the beauty of Vietnam through various events. British interest in Vietnamese cuisine, style, and history continues to grow, while the UK’s cultural influence is felt in Vietnam through English language teaching and even sports. Whittaker pointed out that this cultural exchange is a two-way street, noting, "Around the UK, Vietnamese culture is becoming more popular as its world renowned cuisine, style and history are seen by more and more people each year."
On the environmental front, both countries are making strides. The UK is ramping up investments in renewable energy and constructing a new nuclear power station in Suffolk, while Vietnam is developing its own nuclear energy capacity and is recognized for a large-scale green transition. Vietnam’s efforts in reforestation and environmental protection are seen as positive examples for the UK, and there is considerable scope for sharing expertise in these fields.
The relationship between the two countries’ ruling parties adds another layer of depth. The Communist Party of Britain and the Communist Party of Vietnam have maintained ties for decades, with knowledge-sharing and solidarity stretching back to the 1960s and 70s. Whittaker recalled, "During the war against the US, comrades from the Party regularly held demonstrations, published pamphlets, articles, posters and leaflets supporting the Vietnamese people’s independence and just struggle and donated bicycles and other aid to the Vietnamese people." Recent years have seen continued exchanges, with party leaders attending each other’s major events and contributing to each other’s theoretical journals.
Vietnam’s rapid economic growth—averaging 6% per year—even through global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and US tariffs, has impressed British officials. Major infrastructure projects, such as the Can Tho-Ca Mau expressway and the eradication of temporary and dilapidated housing, are seen as emblematic of the country’s development ambitions.
As both countries look ahead, the visit by General Secretary Lam is widely seen as a new stage in the development of Vietnam-UK relations. It will not only increase friendship and cooperation but also allow the UK to learn from Vietnam’s remarkable growth and innovative approaches in areas from education to green energy. For the Vietnamese community in the UK and for businesses and educators on both sides, the visit opens a new chapter of opportunity and shared progress.
With a packed agenda and high expectations, all eyes are on London as Vietnam and the UK seek to turn diplomatic goodwill into concrete results, setting the stage for another decade of dynamic partnership.
