On April 3, 2026, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Acting Minister Le Manh Hung held a meeting with H.E. Choi Young Sam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam.

Attending the meeting, on the Vietnamese side were representatives from the Department of Foreign Market Development, the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, the Electricity Authority, the Agency for Industry, the Import-Export Department, and the National Competition Commission. On the Korean side were Economic Counselor Kim Dong Joon, Counselor for Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Jinhong, along with officials from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vietnam.

Acting Minister Le Manh Hung emphasized that the meeting was of particular significance as both countries are actively preparing for the upcoming State visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam.

He highly appreciated the achievements in bilateral industrial cooperation, especially the implementation of joint projects such as the Vietnam - Korea Technology Advice and Solutions Center; the Korea - Vietnam Technology Consulting, Technical Support and Solutions Program; and the Vietnam - Korea Critical Minerals Supply Chain Center Project. He also expressed encouragement for both sides to co-organize a Vietnam - Korea Minerals Cooperation Workshop to proactively exchange views and explore cooperation opportunities in line with Vietnam’s new legal regulations.

Regarding bilateral trade, Acting Minister Le Manh Hung commended the efforts of both sides in recent years, noting that total trade turnover between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea reached USD 17 billion in the first two months of 2026, marking a 25% increase compared to the same period in 2025. He proposed that both sides continue close coordination and efforts to effectively implement the Action Plan aimed at achieving a more balanced bilateral trade turnover of USD 150 billion by 2030.

The Acting Minister also suggested that the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and relevant Korean agencies promptly coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam to organize the 15th session of the Vietnam - Korea Joint Committee on Trade, Industry and Energy Cooperation, as well as the 9th meeting of the Committee for the Implementation of the Vietnam - Korea Free Trade Agreement in 2026. These are important annual mechanisms to review progress, address difficulties and obstacles, and promote the development of trade, industrial and energy cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Choi Young Sam affirmed that the Republic of Korea always attaches great importance to its relationship with Vietnam and expressed a desire to further deepen cooperation across various fields, particularly in energy and industry.

Concluding the meeting, Ambassador Choi Young Sam thanked Acting Minister Le Manh Hung for the reception and expressed confidence that, in his capacity, the Acting Minister will further enhance coordination between relevant agencies of the two countries, effectively translate the discussed cooperation contents into action, and ensure thorough preparations for the upcoming State visit by the President of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam, thereby contributing to more substantive and effective Vietnam - Korea relations.

According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, total bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea reached USD 89.5 billion in 2025, up 9.6% compared to 2024. Of this, Vietnam’s exports to the Republic of Korea amounted to USD 28.9 billion, an increase of 12.7%, while imports from the Republic of Korea totaled USD 60.5 billion, up 8.1% year-on-year.

In the first two months of 2026, total trade turnover between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea reached USD 17 billion, up 25% compared to the same period in 2025. Of this, Vietnam’s exports to the Republic of Korea reached USD 5 billion, up 17%, while imports from the Republic of Korea amounted to USD 12 billion, an increase of 29%.