HANOI: France and Vietnam signed a series of strategic agreements on Monday, including a significant deal for 20 Airbus aircraft, as French President Emmanuel Macron embarked on his first official visit to Hanoi. The visit, aimed at deepening bilateral ties, comes amid rising global trade tensions and concerns over US tariffs.
Macron’s three-day visit marks the first by a French president to Vietnam in nearly a decade. It follows heightened trade friction between the European Union and the United States, sparked by US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to impose 50% tariffs on EU goods starting in June.
The deals signed during Macron’s visit include cooperation in aviation, nuclear energy, rail transport, space technology, and pharmaceuticals. These agreements were confirmed in official documents reviewed by Reuters.
Among the highlights is a contract for 20 Airbus A330neo wide-body aircraft between European planemaker Airbus and Vietnamese budget airline VietJet. This builds on a previous agreement for 20 similar jets inked last year. Airbus currently supplies 86% of Vietnam’s commercial aircraft fleet, according to aviation data provider Cirium.
Vietnam also signed a separate deal with Airbus Defence to advance collaboration on earth-observation satellites, reaffirming discussions that have been ongoing since Vietnam launched its current satellite in 2013, developed by Airbus’ predecessor EADS.
The visit underscores France’s ambitions to maintain its presence and influence in Southeast Asia, particularly in light of Vietnam’s growing economic reliance on US trade. Vietnam is reportedly considering the purchase of at least 250 Boeing aircraft for its national carrier and VietJet to help narrow its trade surplus with the US and ease tariff pressures.
European officials have cautioned Hanoi against making trade concessions to Washington that could come at the expense of its existing partnerships, particularly with the EU, which maintains a free trade agreement with Vietnam.
During a joint press appearance with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, an issue critical to Vietnam amid ongoing maritime tensions with China.
Macron also highlighted the strengthening of defence cooperation, including partnerships in information-sharing, cyber security, and counter-terrorism. President Cuong added that the collaboration extends to the defence industry and strategic intelligence.
The agreements reflect a broader effort by both nations to elevate ties, which were officially upgraded to Vietnam’s highest diplomatic status in 2024.
Following his Vietnam stop, Macron is set to continue his Southeast Asian tour with visits to Indonesia and Singapore, aiming to bolster France’s engagement in the region.
