Vietnam and Cambodia Pledge to Raise Trade to $20 Billion

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met in Phnom Penh on October 9 and 10, 2026, to strengthen bilateral ties during Hung's first official visit to Cambodia since taking office in April. The leaders agreed to increase annual bilateral trade to $20 billion, shifting from traditional trade toward deeper investment and production in energy, agriculture, and the digital economy.

To support this growth, the nations will expedite the connection of the Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai and Phnom Penh-Bavet expressways and integrate the Meun Chey-Tan Nam International Border Checkpoint. The leaders signed six cooperation documents covering trade, public security, drug enforcement, culture, and education. They also pledged to combat transnational high-tech crime and online fraud, reaffirming that neither nation would allow its territory to be used to undermine the other's security.

During the visit, Hung met with Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many and the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia to urge youth cooperation. Both governments committed to coordinating activities for the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2027 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. While Vietnamese Customs reported $8.7 billion in trade for the first eight months of 2026, Cambodia's Ministry of Commerce reported $6.58 billion for the first nine months.