Since 2011, Germany and Viet Nam have had a strategic partnership involving cooperation projects in numerous policy fields. Many different intersocietal contacts shape the countries’ relations. Germany and Viet Nam regard themselves as partners in endeavours to uphold multilateralism, free trade and investment, as well as environmental and climate protection.

With a volume of trade of more than 21 billion euro (2025), Germany is Viet Nam’s most important trading partner in the EU, while Viet Nam ranks among Germany’s largest trading partners within ASEAN. More than 500 German companies are currently represented in Viet Nam, more than 4000 German companies export goods to Viet Nam and German investment has created around 50,000 jobs in the country.

The free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union, which entered into force in 2020, gave a further boost to economic relations between Germany and Viet Nam. The investment protection agreement that was signed in 2019 still has to be ratified by some EU member states.

Development cooperation focusing on the energy transition, vocational education and economic promotion is another important element in relations between Germany and Viet Nam. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s current reform plan “Shaping the future together globally” defines Viet Nam as an emerging economy with rapid economic growth, which is playing an increasingly important role at regional and global level and is assuming responsibility.

Bilateral cultural relations provide a framework for the implementation of projects. Numerous cultural, academic and scientific institutions are active in Viet Nam – including the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Goethe-Institut, the Vietnamese-German University and the International German School. The more than 200,000 Vietnamese who live in Germany today, along with those who have returned to Viet Nam, form a unique bridge linking the two countries.

Since 1998, Germany and Viet Nam have also maintained relations in the spheres of security and defence. In November 2022, the two countries’ defence ministries signed an arrangement on cooperation in the field of defence.