Strategic partnership () and comprehensive partnership () are phrases that regularly designate diplomatic relations between two countries. Relations range from bilateral partners, regional partners, to comprehensive partners, and strategic partners. By 2013, although there had been 10 strategic partnerships established over the previous 10 years, Vietnamese foreign policy makers had not yet come up with a clear definition of the concept. In an interview with the Government Newspaper in 2015, Mr. Tran Viet Thai, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Diplomatic Academy, reported: Vietnam has 5 comprehensive strategic partners, 15 strategic partners. Strategic (including four comprehensive strategic partners) and 12 comprehensive partners. According to master Le Hong Hiep, a relationship should be considered "strategic" for Vietnam only if it has particularly important implications for Vietnam's security, prosperity, and international position. Of these three aspects, the two aspects of security and prosperity must be the two essential aspects, while the last aspect is only of secondary significance.VN bị “lạm phát” đối tác chiến lược?, Lê Hồng Hiệp, BBC tiếng Việt, ngày 18 tháng 4 năm 2013. Truy cập ngày 30 tháng 12 năm 2014
As of 2025, Vietnam currently has: 14 Comprehensive Strategic Partners; 25 Strategic Partners (including 14 Comprehensive Strategic Partners), and 15 Comprehensive Partners. Of which 8/10 countries are CPTPP members (excluding Vietnam), with 1 country being a Comprehensive Strategic Partner, 4 countries being Strategic Partners, and 3 countries being Comprehensive Partners; The remaining two countries that do not have high-level partnerships are Peru and Mexico. With ASEAN countries, Vietnam has currently established high-level diplomatic relations with all 9/9 member countries (excluding Vietnam), with 5 countries being Strategic Partners and 2 countries being Comprehensive Partners; The remaining three countries, Cambodia, Laos, and Cuba, are under Special Relations.
Another special case among Vietnam's partners is the United States, which has had its relationship level upgraded from a Comprehensive Partnership (established in 2013) to the highest level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (established in 2023), which ignores the Strategic Partnership level.
Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
In July 2007, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng visited India, and the leaders of the two countries officially raised the relationship to the level of "strategic partnership" with increased political cooperation in the direction of increasingly integrating tightly and trustworthily.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam on September 2–3, 2016, the two countries agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship from a Strategic Partnership to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership". During the visit of Vietnam Secretary General to India in May 2026, Vietnam and India had agree to elevate the two countries relationships to the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. As of May 2026, India is only country where Vietnam have the Enhanced Comprehensie Strategic Partnership with.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
A comprehensive strategic partnership (), also known as a comprehensive strategic cooperation partner, means two or more parties identify long-term interests, support each other, and promote extensive and comprehensive cooperation across the world. All areas where both parties benefit. At the same time, the two sides also build mutual trust at the strategic level.
As of 2025, there are 14 countries with comprehensive strategic partnerships with Vietnam:
tow in the Americas: United States (September 10, 2023) three in East Asia: China (May 2008), South Korea (December 5, 2022), Japan (November 27, 2023) four in Southeast Asia: Malaysia (November 21, 2024), Indonesia (March 10, 2025), Singapore (March 12, 2025), Thailand (May 16, 2025) two in Australasia: Australia (March 7, 2024), New Zealand (February 26, 2025) three in Europe: Russia (July 27, 2012), France (October 8, 2024), United Kingdom (October 29, 2025)
The list below is listed by year of relationship upgrade:
China
During the official visit to China in May 2008 of General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh, senior leaders of the two countries agreed to build a "Comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" in the 21st century based on 16 Word Guideline "Friendly neighbors, Comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability, looking to the future" and the 4 good spirit "Good neighbors, good friends, good comrades, good partners".
On the occasion of the state visit of General Secretary - President Xi Jinping to Hanoi from December 12–13, 2023, the two sides signed a Joint Declaration on "continuing to deepen and further enhance bilateral relations, comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building a strategically meaningful Vietnam-China Future Sharing Community".
Russia
On March 1, 2001, during the official visit to Vietnam by President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the first official visit to Vietnam by the Russian head of state since Russia was founded in 1991, the two sides signed the Joint Declaration Statement on strategic partnership. This is considered the foundation for cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in the 21st century. Russia also became the first country to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam.
On November 20, 2006, during Russian President Putin's second visit to Vietnam, the two sides issued a statement on "strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries".
On July 27, 2012, during President Trương Tấn Sang's visit to Russia, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on strengthening Vietnam-Russia relations, recognizing the two countries' "comprehensive strategic partnership".
South Korea
In October 2009, during the visit to Vietnam of Korean President Lee Myung-bak, President Nguyễn Minh Triết and he announced upgrading the two countries' relationship to a "Strategic Cooperative Partnership".
On the afternoon of December 5, 2022, immediately after the talks in Seoul between President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, the two countries agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship from Strategic Partnership to "Strategic Partnership". Comprehensive strategic partnership" on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations (December 22, 1992 - December 22, 2022).
United States
On July 25, 2013, a meeting took place at the White House between President Trương Tấn Sang and US President Barack Obama. The two leaders decided to establish a comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the United States based on the principles of respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, respect for political institutions, independence, sovereignty, and each other's territorial integrity.
On September 10, 2023, during the official State visit from September 10–11, 2023, of President Joe Biden to Vietnam at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the two sides issued a Joint Communiqué, officially upgrading the relationship to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This is also the first time in history that Vietnam has upgraded its partnership with a country from the level of Comprehensive Partnership to the highest level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, skipping the level of Strategic Partnership, in just 10 years (from 2013 to 2023).
Japan
In October 2006, on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng's official visit to Japan, the two sides agreed to issue a Joint Declaration on "Towards a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia".
In April 2009, during General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh's visit to Japan, the two sides officially established the "Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" relationship.
On March 18, 2014, President Trương Tấn Sang and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō signed a joint statement upgrading the Vietnam-Japan Strategic Partnership to a new level into "Warfare Partnership". A far-reaching Strategy for Peace and Prosperity in Asia".
During the visit to Japan from November 22–25, 2021 of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính with his counterpart - Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the two sides issued a Joint Statement reaffirming: agreeing to bring the "Partnership" The "Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategy" has developed to new heights, becoming increasingly profound, substantive and effective in all fields.
On the occasion of his official visit to Japan to attend the 50th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, on the afternoon of November 27, 2023, President Võ Văn Thưởng and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced the upgrade of relations. The two countries established a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world".
Australia
During General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh's visit to Canberra in September 2009, Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Khiêm signed a joint statement on the Comprehensive Partnership between the two countries. The joint statement sets out six major areas of future cooperation, including: political relations and public policy exchange; economic growth and trade; development support and technical cooperation; defense and security relations; connecting the people of the two countries; and global and regional agenda.
During his trip to Australia from March 14 to 18, 2018, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc was welcomed with the highest protocol for the head of the Government at the Australian Parliament House. Immediately after that, on the morning of March 15, 2018, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signed a Joint Declaration on establishing a Strategic Partnership between the two countries, upgrading Vietnam-Australia relations from comprehensive cooperation in 2009 to the level of Strategic Partner. The two countries also agreed to focus on realizing their intention to upgrade relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
On March 7, 2024, on the occasion of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's visit to Australia at the invitation of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the two sides agreed to upgrade relations to the highest level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, becoming Vietnam's 7th comprehensive strategic partner.
France
On the occasion of the official visit to France (September 24–26, 2013), Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault signed the "Joint Declaration on the Vietnam-France Strategic Partnership"
On the occasion of the official visit to France (October 6–7, 2024), General Secretary - President Tô Lâm and French President Emmanuel Macron signed the "Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and France", becoming Vietnam's 8th comprehensive strategic partner.
Malaysia
In 2004, on the occasion of Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải's visit to Malaysia, the two countries issued a "Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Partnership framework in the 21st century".
In August 2015, during the official visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the two countries continued to issue a joint statement establishing a strategic partnership between the two sides.
During General Secretary Tô Lâm's official visit to Malaysia, the two governments decided to upgrade Vietnam-Malaysia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
New Zealand
In September 2009, General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh paid an official visit to New Zealand. Senior leaders of the two countries have agreed to establish a Comprehensive Partnership.