Bilateral Relations

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Norway were established in 1971. The countries have particular close ties due to the fact that around 19 000 Norwegian citizens are of Vietnamese origin; one of the largest non-European groups in Norway. The main elements of our development cooperation are energy, fisheries, the environment and climate change, human rights and gender equality.

The Norwegian State Secretary of Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr. Halvard Ingebrigtsen and Vietnams Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh. 
Photo: Gunnhild Pauline Baade.

EFTA (European Free Trade Association; Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway) and Vietnam will probably announce Free Trade negotiations in June 2011. That is the result after the High Level Meeting between the Norwegian State Secretary of Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr. Halvard Ingebrigtsen and Vietnams Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh. Read more

Head of the EFTA-delegation Mr. Svein Roald Hansen (left) and H.E. Nguyen Duc Kien, Chairman of the National Assembly. 
Photo: Linn Helene Husby Løken.

Parliamentarians from the four EFTA countries visited Hanoi in the end of February 2011 to discuss ways to strengthen EFTA- Vietnam trade relations, with the view to start negotiations on a free trade agreement. Read more

Photo: Berit Roald.

Since 1999 Norway and Vietnam have cooperated on the project to establish and implement the Vietnamese Fisheries Law. The last annual meeting for phase 2 of the project was held in Hanoi on 26 January 2011. Read more

Photo: Lars Verket.

On 25 November 1971 diplomatic relations were established between Norway and Vietnam. The year 2011 marks the 40 year anniversary of this relationship. Throughout the year, Norway will celebrate th...

Photo: Guri Dahl.

Norway and Vietnam signed a new agreement on cooperation in the efforts and capacity to control and manage bio-safety and bio-security. The signing ceremony took place in Hanoi on 13 December 2010. Read more

Photo: Berit Roald.

Vietnam and Norway organized a seminar on promoting transparency in the extractive industries on 10 December 2010 in Hanoi; “Exploring the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Vietnam”. Read more

Photo: Lise Vangerud.

The Norwegian Government's Vietnam Strategy can be read online in Norwegian, Vietnamese and English. Read more