Myanmar President to Visit Vietnam Following Recent Trips to Russia and Thailand
Myanmar's junta chief turned President Min Aung Hlaing attends the Thailand-Myanmar Business Forum 2026 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, August 6, 2026. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
NAYPYIDAW, Sep. 1, 2026 — Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing is scheduled to make an official visit to Vietnam from September 4–6, at the invitation of Vietnamese President To Lam, as Myanmar continues efforts to strengthen external relations and re-engage with countries in the region.
According to state media in Myanmar and Vietnam, Min Aung Hlaing is expected to hold bilateral talks with To Lam and meet with Vietnam’s Prime Minister and National Assembly Chairman during the visit.
He is also scheduled to attend the Myanmar–Vietnam Business Forum and meet representatives from various economic organizations, highlighting the economic dimension of the visit.
Vietnam will become the seventh foreign country visited by Min Aung Hlaing since he became president in April 2026, as his administration seeks greater international legitimacy and broader diplomatic engagement.
The Vietnam trip follows a series of overseas visits, including trips to Russia and Thailand in August, as Min Aung Hlaing seeks to strengthen Myanmar’s foreign relations and expand international recognition for his government.
However, Myanmar’s efforts to re-engage internationally continue to face significant obstacles. ASEAN has yet to allow Myanmar’s political representatives to participate in its summits, citing the military government’s failure to implement the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus, which seeks to help end the country’s prolonged civil conflict.
The conflict has continued since the 2021 military coup, with the fighting resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and a severe humanitarian and political crisis.
Min Aung Hlaing’s upcoming visit to Vietnam therefore represents another significant step in Myanmar’s efforts to rebuild regional diplomatic engagement, even as questions over legitimacy, the ongoing conflict and ASEAN’s position remain unresolved.
