What we do

Relations between the Netherlands and Vietnam date back to the 17th century. At that time the United East India Company VOC established trading posts in both central and northern Vietnam: in 1632 in Hoi An and in 1637 in what was then called Pho Hien (between Hanoi and Haiphong). In those days Vietnam supplied silk and sugar, which the VOC sold mostly in Japan. The VOC supplied wood and silk cloth, and spices from other parts of the region.

Diplomatic ties between the Netherlands and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were established on 9 April 1973, with the Netherlands ambassador in Beijing accredited to Hanoi. The embassy in Hanoi was opened in 1976. It was closed temporarily for financial reasons in 1988 but reopened in December 1993. Diplomatic relations were maintained throughout the five year period through the Netherlands ambassador in Bangkok who was then accredited to Vietnam. For many years the Vietnamese embassy in Brussels was accredited to the Netherlands. In early 1998 Vietnam established an embassy in The Hague.

Since 1993 many high-level Dutch visits have been paid to Vietnam, in particular visits of the Dutch minister of Agriculture, minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, minister for Development Cooperation and minister of Foreign Trade. In 1995 Prime Minister Wim Kok visited Vietnam. In March 2008 minister for Development Cooperation Koenders and minister of Foreign Trade Heemskerk paid a joint visit to Vietnam. In 2009 minister of Foreign Affairs Verhagen, minister Verburg of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and state secretary Huizinga of Transport, Public Works and Water Management visited Vietnam.

Vietnam also sent its share of dignitaries to the Netherlands, deputy prime ministers, ministers and members of the National Assembly of Vietnam. In 2001 Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the Netherlands. In 2009 deputy prime minister Trong paid a working visit to our country.

Four centuries later the trade relations have evolved into intensive economic relations in terms of trade and investment. The Netherlands is a major European export market for Vietnamese textiles, footwear and agricultural products, including seafood. The Netherlands exports chemicals, food products and equipment to Vietnam and is a major investor in Vietnam.

Development cooperation is another pillar of the bilateral relationship as Vietnam is still one of the countries receiving structural bilateral development cooperation, as is elaborated in the embassy’s strategy plan 2008-2011. The focus is on water and water management, health, environment (including forestry, biodiversity and sustainability) and on governance. Given the rapid economic growth and high ambitions of Vietnam towards the status of middle income country Vietnam has become a country in transition, on target for achieving most of the Millennium Development Goals. Consequently, also the bilateral relationship is in transition. Vietnam is one of the countries, including Indonesia and South Africa, where Dutch development cooperation will be phased out over time and the bilateral relationship will be broadened, focussing on economic cooperation.

Increased attention is being given to private sector development in order to create employment and increase income. For the Netherlands Vietnam has become one of the 15 focus countries for trade and investment promoted world wide. In Asia there are only three such economic priority countries: China, India and Vietnam.

More information can be found in the Embassy's multi annual strategic plan 2008-2011.