On 20 October 2026 in Copenhagen, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen adopted a joint statement upgrading Vietnam–Denmark relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Denmark is the second EU member state after France, and the first Nordic country, to hold this top-level framework with Vietnam. Both sides identified economic, trade and investment cooperation as a key pillar.
From a green partnership to a comprehensive one
Relations have moved through several milestones: diplomatic ties in 1971, a Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 and a Green Strategic Partnership in 2023. The new framework extends cooperation beyond climate and energy into logistics, supply chains, science and technology, agriculture, health and education.
Concrete agreements
- Sixteen cooperation documents were exchanged, including MoUs, cooperation agreements and letters of intent.
- Logistics: Hateco and APM Terminals (part of A.P. Moller–Maersk) will study a rail container terminal in Hai Phong and three other northern sites, with a preliminary estimate of about US$3.5 billion.
- Offshore wind: Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners will co-develop a project in the South Central region; Semco Maritime will work with PTSC M&C on offshore substations in 2026–2030.
- Consumer goods and science: Carlsberg signed letters of intent on brewery expansion in Hue and Da Nang; the Niels Bohr Institute (University of Copenhagen) will cooperate with FPT on quantum research.
Aligned with Vietnam's policies
The priority areas match Vietnam's development direction: the revised Power Development Plan VIII treats offshore wind as a key source for the energy transition; rail and seaport development are part of the 2026–2030 strategic infrastructure plan; and science, technology and innovation are at the heart of Resolution 57. Both sides also committed to implementing the EVFTA effectively and encouraging the remaining EU states to ratify the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Impact on Vietnam's economy
- Green capital and technology: Denmark is a world leader in wind power; cooperation gives Vietnam access to technology, expertise and long-term finance.
- Logistics: inland container and rail projects can lower transport costs and make exports more competitive.
- Supply chains: engineering and oil-and-gas service firms can join the offshore wind supply chain.
- ASEAN gateway: Vietnam stands ready to act as a bridge for Denmark–ASEAN cooperation.
Next steps
Most agreements are still at the study or MoU stage. The two governments will draw up action programmes; the sixth Intergovernmental Committee session in Copenhagen on 26 October was a first step. Businesses should track each project's approval and financing progress.
vietnamii.com view: upgrading ties with Denmark opens another channel of high-quality Nordic capital and technology, well matched to Vietnam's green transition and infrastructure needs in the new period.