Vietnam strengthens ties with Netherlands as Dutch firms eye $6.7 bn trade and $15 bn investment

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang chaired a meeting in Hanoi with leading Dutch companies, including Heineken, Unilever, De Heus and Philips. The discussion highlighted the growing Vietnam‑Netherlands relationship, noting that the Netherlands is the EU's largest trading partner for Vietnam and the biggest EU investor in the country. Bilateral trade reached over $6.74 billion in the first five months of 2026, a 21.9% increase from the previous year, while Dutch projects in Vietnam total more than 476 with a registered capital exceeding $15 billion. Participants praised Vietnam's reform agenda, the development of international financial centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and the push for high‑tech, logistics, and sustainable innovation, signalling strong prospects for further cooperation.

The meeting underscored mutual interest in expanding collaboration across finance, logistics, ports, high‑technology, water management, green transition and innovation, reinforcing the strategic partnership established under the comprehensive partnership framework since 2019.