Bhutan–Vietnam Relations Enter a New Era
His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen returned to Bhutan on August 22, 2025, after concluding a landmark State Visit to Vietnam, the first from Bhutan to the Southeast Asian nation.
Their Majesties were received with great warmth throughout the visit, during which Their Majesties met with government and business leaders, as well as the small community of Bhutanese living in Vietnam.
Their Majesties were received in an official ceremony by the President and the President’s spouse at the Presidential Palace, and paid tribute to President Ho Chí Minh and Vietnam’s Heroes and Martyrs while in Hanoi.
His Majesty also met with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Prime Minister, and the Chairman of the National Assembly.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment together with representatives of WWF – Vietnam called on Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, and exchanged views Bhutan and Viet Nam share in biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development.
During the visit, Their Majesties met with local leaders of Quang Ninh province and visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay.
Bhutan and Vietnam reaffirmed their commitment to deepen ties in investment and trade, as well as in cultural and spiritual exchanges. Vietnam’s leaders welcomed the opportunities presented by Gelephu Mindfulness City initiative, describing it as a pioneering model of values-based sustainable development.
Two agreements were signed during the visit, including one to strengthen civil aviation cooperation, paving the way for greater connectivity.
Their Majesties expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the warmth and hospitality of the government and people of Vietnam, and extended invitations to the country’s leaders to visit Bhutan.
Meanwhile, the visit was more than a diplomatic milestone; it was a cultural and emotional journey, weaving together stories of shared values, spiritual bonds, and aspirations for a greener, fairer future.
The capital city of Ha Noi embraced Their Majesties with a reception steeped in tradition and warmth. Bhutan’s young royals – the Gyalseys and the Gyalsem – drew smiles from the Vietnamese hosts, adding a human touch to the formalities.
For many Vietnamese, Bhutan’s philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) felt strikingly familiar, according to the Vietnamese media – resonating with their own pursuit of progress where no one is left behind.
The Visit marked the coming together of GNH and Vietnam’s innovation-driven growth – philosophies from two very different geographies, yet remarkably aligned in spirit.
As the visit drew to a close, it became clear that this was not merely a ceremonial exchange. It was a weaving together of narratives: Vietnam’s rapid modernization and Bhutan’s timeless philosophy of happiness; Vietnam’s green transformation and Bhutan’s renewable energy aspirations; Vietnam’s rich cultural resilience and Bhutan’s deep-rooted spirituality.
For the Bhutanese delegation, this visit offered lessons and inspirations. For Vietnam, it was an opportunity to embrace a partner whose values echo its own.
Above all, it was a reminder that even across oceans and mountains, the human desire for prosperity, harmony, and dignity is universal.
The friendship between Bhutan and Vietnam, once distant, now feels deeply personal – carried forward not just in signed agreements, but in the laughter of children, the shared prayers in temples, and the vision of a future where the Himalayas and the Red River Delta rise together.
Staff Reporter
