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Vietnam's To Lam seeks to re-energise Thai ties

Vietnam’s top leader To Lam is in Thailand on a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties through trade and shared historical links to Ho Chi Minh.

The trip comes as leaders across Asia adjust to a shifting global economy and security order shaped in part by Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

It matters because Vietnam and Thailand are trying to deepen regional cooperation while major-power rivalry makes the wider environment less predictable.

  • Vietnam and Thailand are both members of ASEAN, which was created to reduce regional conflict and boost economic cooperation.
  • Ho Chi Minh spent years abroad before leading Vietnam’s independence movement, giving his legacy unusually broad international resonance.
  • Thailand has historically served as a diplomatic bridge between mainland Southeast Asian states and outside powers.
Vietnam's To Lam seeks to re-energise Thai ties | Implica