Hanoi: President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Hanoi on Tuesday to commence a four-day state visit, following a diplomatic engagement in India. During his stay, President Lee is scheduled to engage in summit talks with Vietnam's top leader, To Lam, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee's visit marks the first by a foreign leader to Vietnam since To Lam's recent elevation to state president and general secretary of the Communist Party. The discussions are set to concentrate on fortifying energy security and stabilizing supply chains for critical minerals, a necessity in light of the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The Cheong Wa Dae emphasized that the summit aims to foster closer cooperation in nuclear energy and infrastructure, thereby broadening the economic partnership between the two nations.

Vietnam has increasingly become an essential manufacturing hub for South Korean businesses, playing a strategic role in diversifying supply chains away from China. The bilateral trade between South Korea and Vietnam reached an unprecedented $94.6 billion in 2025, placing them among each other's top three trading partners. The two countries have set an ambitious target to elevate this trade volume to $150 billion by the year 2030.

In addition to the summit with To Lam, President Lee is scheduled to meet with Vietnam's Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on Thursday. These meetings will precede a business forum aimed at exploring and expanding economic cooperation between South Korea and Vietnam. President Lee plans to conclude his visit and return home on Friday.