Vietnam’s Highest Official Visits Ottawa to Discuss Trade, Diplomatic Ties

Prime Minister Mark Carney, right, speaks with Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam before a meeting in his office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Sept. 24, 2026. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Vietnam’s top political leader met with Prime Minister Carney in Ottawa on Sept. 24 to discuss strengthening trade and diplomatic relations.

Vietnamese President Tô Lâm, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was joined by Carney on Parliament Hill before the pair briefly addressed reporters.

“This is a historic visit at a crucial time for our economies and for the world,” Carney told Lâm while addressing the media. “In the past five years our trade has more than doubled between our two countries.”

Tô also spoke about deepening the partnership between his country and Canada in an address.

Canada and Vietnam upgraded their bilateral relationship to a “strategic partnership” on Sept. 24, during Tô’s visit to Ottawa.

The deal moves the two countries beyond the 2017 Canada-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership to deepen long-term cooperation, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

To advance this new Strategic Partnership, Canada and Vietnam signed or renewed four memoranda of understanding (MOUs), the PMO said in a press release.

The new agreement establishes a formal roadmap to “enhance friendship, dialogue, and cooperation” between the two nations across trade and investment, transportation, supply chains, digital and emerging technologies, energy security and the environment, food security and agri-food, defence, aerospace, maritime security, education, and people-to-people ties, according to the press release.

Tô and Carney will attend a dinner later on Sept. 24 hosted by Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour.

Vietnam holds membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an organization currently engaged in free-trade negotiations with Canada. Carney has said he is hoping to sign that trade agreement during a November visit to the Philippines, which could potentially include a detour through Vietnam.

Vietnam is among the countries covered by Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was launched in November 2022. Since then, Canada has expanded its engagement with Vietnam through economic initiatives and international assistance.

Global Affairs Canada’s online profile of Vietnam describes it as Canada’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with bilateral merchandise trade that surpassed $20 billion in 2025. Canada exports food, metals and fertilizers, while Vietnam exports electronics, clothing, furniture and shoes.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.