Russia and Vietnam have begun preparations to enable Vietnamese citizens to travel to Russia without visas as the two countries pursue new agreements covering energy, nuclear technology and economic cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin made the announcement after meeting with To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the country's President, at the Kremlin on September 9.
To Lam made an official visit to Russia with his wife, Ngo Phuong Ly. Following the official welcome ceremony in the Georgiyevsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace, the two leaders held an initial meeting in a restricted format, followed by expanded talks between the two delegations.
17 documents signed on energy and nuclear safety
Russia and Vietnam adopted a joint statement calling for stronger bilateral relations. The parties signed 17 documents covering investment, justice, transport, education, nuclear and radiation safety, oil and natural gas, and scientific and technological cooperation.
The signed texts include an agreement on nuclear and radiation safety, documents concerning the development of oil and natural gas fields on Vietnam's continental shelf, and a framework agreement to establish a strategic oil reserve in Dung Quat. Memorandums covering investment promotion and cooperation between Russian and Vietnamese universities and scientific institutions were also signed.
The two countries also decided to expand cooperation on the digitalization of justice institutions, training specialists for the transport sector, geological research, and the establishment of an additive manufacturing center within PetroVietnam.
Preparations for a visa-free regime
Putin recalled that Russian citizens do not need visas when traveling to Vietnam. Saying that they were working to launch a visa-free travel regime for Vietnamese citizens to Russia in the near future, Putin noted that travel between the two countries had increased.
Approximately 700,000 Russian tourists visited Vietnam in 2025. In the first six months of this year, the number of trips by Russian tourists to Vietnam exceeded 800,000.
Trade and oil projects
Trade between Russia and Vietnam grew by 5.7 percent in 2025. In the first half of this year, the increase in trade reached 13.8 percent.
Putin said the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union had also contributed to the positive trend in trade. Moscow and Hanoi are continuing efforts to enable payments in their national currencies and develop their own credit and banking mechanisms.
New projects also emerged in the energy partnership. The Vietsovpetro joint venture, which has operated in Vietnam's oil and natural gas fields for 45 years, has produced more than 250 million tons of oil. PetroVietnam has been carrying out projects in Russia's Nenets Autonomous Okrug since 2008 and has extracted more than 40 million tons of oil there.
Gazprom is interested in developing fields on Vietnam's continental shelf and has been supplying liquefied natural gas to the country since last year. Moscow also proposed creating strategic fuel reserves in Vietnam and transporting energy resources in transit to neighboring countries through Vietnam.
Russian-designed nuclear power plant project
The talks also addressed the construction of a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Vietnam. Putin said the intergovernmental agreement on the project had been signed in March and described it as one of the leading initiatives in Russia-Vietnam cooperation.
The parties are also considering establishing a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam. Putin said these projects could contribute to economic growth and create jobs in the high-tech sector.
Joint laboratory opens in Hanoi
During the talks, Putin and To Lam joined by video link the opening of a new laboratory at the Russia-Vietnam Tropical Scientific Research and Technology Center in Hanoi.
The laboratory will conduct research on preventing infectious diseases, developing medicines and other issues related to tropical climates. The joint center, which has been operating for approximately 40 years, conducts work in medicine, infectious diseases, ecology and nature conservation.
To Lam: Relations are a priority
To Lam said Vietnam considers developing relations with Russia one of the priority directions of its foreign policy. He said Hanoi had not changed its position despite some countries' stance on Vietnam's continued close relations with Russia, and highlighted Russia's importance through its role in international politics and its contribution to global energy and food security.
Putin also said the strategic partnership between Russia and Vietnam was continuing. He stated that the relationship was based on equality, mutual respect and consideration of the parties' interests, adding that To Lam's state visit would give fresh momentum to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
