Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Visits South Korea, Deepening Economic and Security Ties

President of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man arrived in Seoul on September 6, 2026, for an official visit to South Korea at the invitation of Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly Cho Jeong Sik. This marks Man's first official visit to South Korea in his capacity as President of the National Assembly, and the first visit to South Korea by a top Vietnamese legislator. He was notably welcomed as the first foreign guest of Speaker Cho. Viet Nam and South Korea established diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992, and elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022. Political trust has been continuously consolidated through frequent high-level exchanges and delegation visits, fostering a relationship where both sides are trusted partners and close friends. South Korea is currently Viet Nam's largest foreign direct investor, with cumulative investment capital reaching US$101 billion as of June 2026. The Northeast Asian nation also ranks second in development cooperation and tourism, and third in trade, with two-way trade turnover hitting US$89 billion in 2025. Cooperation in defense and security has grown substantially through specific projects and agreements, while science and technology cooperation has been identified as a new pillar in bilateral relations. Collaboration in labor, culture, tourism, and education continues to expand, with active people-to-people exchanges maintained through various channels. Currently, nearly 400,000 Vietnamese are living and working in South Korea, and over 200,000 South Koreans are living and working in Viet Nam.