Vietnam-Singapore Relations Through 2025 and Beyond
Singapore and Vietnam Strengthen Ties with Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Singapore and Vietnam have elevated their strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic one, marking a significant milestone in their bilateral relations. This new partnership, established in March 2025, will strengthen ties across political, defense, economic, and environmental domains.
The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) have been the cornerstone of bilateral cooperation for almost three decades. Over the years, these parks have brought in over $23 billion worth of investment capital from over 1,000 tenant companies, creating jobs for some 320,000 people. The growth of the VSIPs has mirrored the trajectory of bilateral ties, with Singapore being the largest source of foreign direct investment for Vietnam.
In the economic sphere, Singapore is a top economic partner of Vietnam, with over US$84 billion in registered investment across nearly 4,000 projects as of early 2025. Bilateral trade has surged, with a 27% year-on-year increase, reaching SGD6.57 billion in the first two months of 2025. The development and expansion of the VSIP network to 20 parks across 14 provinces is evolving into a VSIP 2.0 model, emphasizing high-tech and green development, aligning with their Digital–Green Economic Partnership.
The comprehensive strategic partnership also addresses environmental and sustainable development issues. Both countries are committed to joint initiatives in renewable energy and sustainable growth, reflecting shared priorities in green growth and digital transformation. Economic projects and industrial parks focus increasingly on green technologies and environmentally friendly development models.
In the defense and security domain, enhanced defense ties include regular high-level dialogues between leaders and defense officials, active collaboration in military training, personnel exchanges, maritime security, and safety. Maintenance of consultation and dialogue mechanisms, including defense policy dialogues hosted by Vietnam, ensures ongoing dialogue. Joint efforts to uphold an open and inclusive regional security architecture through ASEAN forums further strengthen bilateral ties.
The Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam, Jaya Ratnam, has been instrumental in fostering these relationships. Recently, Ambassador Ratnam held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi, focusing on enhancing political trust and creating new breakthroughs for the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
The CSP also covers new areas of opportunity such as renewable energy, carbon credits, subsea cable connectivity, and the digital economy. The countries are also addressing emerging challenges such as scams and cybercrimes within the context of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The strong people-to-people ties between Singapore and Vietnam remain a foundational pillar of the relationship. Singapore is now the sixth-largest source of tourists to Vietnam. New initiatives like the Innovation Talent Exchange Programme are being implemented to facilitate more connections between the two countries.
The Singaporean Chamber of Commerce Vietnam is working to strengthen the bilateral partnership between the two nations, with a focus on international trade and investment. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) continue to play a significant role in bilateral cooperation, with plans for more initiatives in Ho Chi Minh City and Haiphong to expand the VSIPs' reach.
Under the leadership of Party General Secretary Lam, Vietnam is focusing on sustainable development, green growth, and digital transformation. The newly minted Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) sets out a roadmap for deepening and expanding cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam. As both nations continue to work together, the future of their relationship looks promising and ripe with opportunity.
[1] Vietnam News. (2025, March 1). Singapore, Vietnam elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership. https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/861277/singapore-vietnam-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership.html
[2] Channel NewsAsia. (2025, March 1). Singapore, Vietnam elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-vietnam-elevate-ties-comprehensive-strategic-partnership-2744141
[3] The Straits Times. (2025, March 1). Singapore and Vietnam elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/elevating-ties-singapore-vietnam-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership
[4] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. (2025, March 1). Singapore and Vietnam elevate ties to comprehensive strategic partnership. https://www.mfa.gov.sg/news/press-statements/item/37535-singapore-and-vietnam-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership
[5] The Diplomat. (2025, March 1). Singapore and Vietnam Elevate Ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. https://thediplomat.com/2025/03/singapore-and-vietnam-elevate-ties-to-comprehensive-strategic-partnership/
- Singapore and Vietnam have agreed to prioritize renewable energy and sustainable growth within the comprehensive strategic partnership.
- In the realm of finance, the countries are exploring opportunities in carbon credits, subsea cable connectivity, and the digital economy.
- The partnership addresses emerging challenges, such as scams and cybercrimes, under the domain of cybersecurity and investing.
- Singapore's Ambassador Jaya Ratnam is actively working to strengthen ties and create breakthroughs for the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.
- The growth of bilateral trade between the countries has surged, reflecting increased collaboration in the general news and business sectors.
- The technology sector plays a key role in the Digital–Green Economic Partnership, which emphasizes high-tech and green development in the expansion of the VSIP network.
- The policy-and-legislation sphere includes the maintenance of consultation and dialogue mechanisms to uphold an open and inclusive regional security architecture through ASEAN forums.
