French President Emmanuel Macron visited Hanoi on Monday as part of his Southeast Asia tour, emphasizing the importance of closer cooperation between Vietnam and France amid a shifting and unstable global environment. He stressed the need for an international order grounded in law, especially at a time marked by significant imbalances and the resurgence of power-driven rhetoric and intimidation. Following Vietnam, Macron will continue his tour to Indonesia and Singapore.
This visit occurs amid ongoing trade tensions, with the United States imposing steep tariffs on European goods. In April, Vietnamese imports to the U.S. faced tariffs as high as 46%, one of the highest rates applied to any country.
During his stay, Macron signed over a dozen agreements covering defense, nuclear energy, and trade. Notably, he inked a deal between Vietnamese budget airline VietJet and Airbus for the purchase of 20 A330-900 aircraft.
Macron also paid respects at a war memorial in Hanoi honoring those who fought against French colonial rule. He met with Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong and Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, and visited the historic 11th-century Temple of Literature in the city center.
Highlighting the “sovereignty partnership” between France and Vietnam, Macron indicated this relationship could serve as a cornerstone for France’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy. He pointed to France’s commitment to upholding international maritime law, referencing the deployment of the French carrier strike group in the South China Sea earlier in 2025.
While China and Vietnam share a maritime agreement for the Gulf of Tonkin, they continue to dispute territories in the South China Sea, particularly over the Spratly and Paracel Islands.
Macron also pledged support for Vietnam in critical areas such as minerals, high-speed rail, civil nuclear energy, and aerospace. He emphasized working together to help Vietnam transition from coal dependency toward renewable energy and civil nuclear power.
This marks Macron’s first visit to Vietnam since assuming office in 2017. France and Vietnam maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level of diplomatic ties Vietnam holds, shared only with countries like Russia, China, and the United States.
