The Governments of Vietnam and Laos have agreed to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen strategic connectivity, with the goal of increasing bilateral trade to USD10 billion by 2030.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the longstanding relationship between the two countries and agreed to prioritise infrastructure connectivity, economic integration and investment cooperation. Key transport projects identified for cooperation include the Hanoi–Vientiane Expressway and the Vung Ang–Vientiane Railway, which are expected to strengthen regional logistics networks and improve Laos’ access to seaports. The two governments also signed a memorandum of understanding on a transport cooperation strategy covering the 2026–2035 period.
The leaders agreed to improve the investment environment for businesses, implement existing economic agreements more effectively and expand cooperation in areas such as education, science and technology, digital transformation, innovation, agriculture and tourism. Vietnamese investment in Laos reached approximately USD582 million during the first quarter of 2026, increasing more than fourfold year on year and bringing cumulative Vietnamese investment in Laos to around USD6.6 billion across 289 projects.