19/09/2026
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19/09/2026
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The bonds between Vietnam and Kuwait have been nurtured by the solidarity and support of the Kuwaiti people during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification. In the past, many Kuwaitis took to the streets to express their opposition to the Vietnam war, while Kuwaiti media loudly voiced support for and admiration of the will and resilience of the Vietnamese people. On the other hand, Vietnam fully supported Kuwait’s efforts to regain its sovereignty following the Iraqi invasion.
These expressions of solidarity laid an important foundation for the enduring friendship between our two peoples. In January 1976, Kuwait became the first country in the Gulf region to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. During Vietnam’s post-war reconstruction, Kuwait provided practical assistance through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) to implement many transportation, irrigation, and socio-economic development projects in several localities.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Kuwait also timely granted 600,000 doses of vaccines to Vietnam. Such valued support has further strengthened our two friendly countries. In recent years, in the face of common challenges in the region and around the world, Vietnam and Kuwait have regularly exchanged views and coordinated their positions in support of one another at various international forums. This cooperation has been prioritized on issues such as maintaining an environment of peace, stability and development; participating in the United Nations Human Rights Council; respecting the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); promoting a two-State solution for the Palestinian people; strengthening the GCCASEAN cooperation; and expanding cultural exchanges among countries and regions.
Economic ties have become a key pillar of relations between Vietnam and Kuwait. In so far, Kuwait is Vietnam’s largest investor from the Middle East with total investment of more than US$3.5 billion, focusing into the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Thanh Hoa Province. The project is more than a major investment.
It is an obvious example of the complementarity between the two economies and the shared interests that underpin our partnership. Kuwait is also Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the Middle East and Africa. Bilateral trade reached from 7 to 7.5 billion USD in the past 3 years, reflecting the growing scale and depth of commercial ties. Vietnam imports mainly crude oil, petrochemical products and industrial inputs from Kuwait, while Vietnamese electronics, mobile phones, agricultural and aquatic products, textiles and garments, wooden products and consumer goods are becoming increasingly visible in the Kuwaiti market.
Vietnam and Kuwait are both seeing new opportunities as they transform their growth models and deepen international integration. Vietnam is pursuing strong growth while largely investing in infrastructure, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Its GDP grew by 8.02% in 2025 and has been targeted to double-digit rate by the Government in the years ahead. Its total trade has ranked among the world’s top 15 and expected to surpass 1,000 billion USD in 2026. Foreign investors are quite optimistic to register approximately US$41 billion of FDI in the first 8 months of 2026, up more than 55% year-on-year.
At the same time, Kuwait is advancing economic development and diversification under the Kuwait Vision 2035. Amid significant changes across the region, Kuwait is steadily strengthening its resilience, consolidating its economic foundations and playing an increasingly active role in the Gulf. According to the IMF, Kuwait’s real GDP is projected to grow by 3.8% in 2026, while the non-oil sector is expected to expand by 3.0%. This reflects the growing importance of economic diversification as a driver of growth and creates further scope for international cooperation as well as for a more intensive partnership between Kuwait and Vietnam
The elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in 2025 has established a favorable framework for expanding and diversifying cooperation. The two sides have set an ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$12–15 billion by 2030, while broadening engagement in investment, energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, food security, defense and security, and responses to non-traditional challenges. Notably, Kuwait could look into investment opportunities to expand its presence in Vietnam, particularly in infrastructure, energy, finance, logistics and technology.
Vietnam, for its part, can further develop exports to Kuwait, including agricultural and aquatic products, Halal food, electronics and industrial goods. Food security stands out as an area with clear potential, combining Kuwait’s need to diversify sources of supply with Vietnam’s strengths in agricultural production and food processing.
Furthermore, the digital economy, education, tourism, cultural exchange and human resource development offer additional avenues for closer cooperation. Vietnam deeply values the friendship and practical support extended by generations of Kuwaiti leaders and people. The 50th anniversary marks a milestone for the two countries to reflect on a proud journey and look forward to a brighter future.
The foundation laid over the past fifty years and the political trust of the leaders of both countries provide a solid basis for taking the Strategic Partnership forward in a more substantive, dynamic and effective manner. In the coming years, the two countries can better leverage their complementary strengths, expand the flow of trade, investment, energy, technology and people- to-people exchanges, and enhance the connectivity between Southeast Asia and the Gulf region. Through these efforts, the Vietnam-Kuwait relations nurtured over the past half century will continue to be transcended into new cooperative achievements, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries and making a positive contribution to regional peace, stability and prosperity.
By H.E. Dr. Nguyen Duc Thang
Ambassador of Vietnam to the State of Kuwait
