Vietnam's To Lam to visit Russia and France

Vietnamese President To Lam will visit Russia next week before travelling to France and attending a space summit in Paris, Vietnam's foreign ministry said Friday.

To Lam's state visit to Russia begins Monday, and he is due to meet President Vladimir Putin. The trip comes just over a year after a visit to Moscow for celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

Vietnam and Russia have been close allies since the Cold War and cooperate on energy and defence. Russia has been Vietnam's main arms supplier for decades, although orders have dropped since the Ukraine war.

To Lam will also visit France at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, who visited Vietnam in May 2025. The Vietnamese leader will attend the International Space Summit in Paris on September 9-10.