Singapore and Vietnam exchanged several agreements on May 29, 2026, aimed at deepening cooperation on supply chain resilience, agricultural trade, higher education, governance, law, and industry sectors. The agreements were signed during Vietnamese President To Lam's four-day state visit to Singapore and witnessed by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Among the key outcomes, Singapore and Vietnam established a Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue to hold regular high-level discussions on governance, public administration, and transformation. The inaugural dialogue is scheduled for August 2026 in Singapore [1, 2, 6].
The two countries also formed a task force focused on agrifood trade to enhance collaboration on food security and safety. This includes jointly addressing emerging issues that affect food trade between them [1, 2, 6].
A joint statement on supply chain resilience, in light of tensions in the Middle East, reaffirmed Singapore and Vietnam’s commitment to regional stability, economic resilience, and a global order based on international law [1, 2, 6]. They pledged to maintain unimpeded trade flows and keep airports, seaports, and other trade infrastructure operational to reduce any disruptions [3, 4, 5].
Singapore and Vietnam committed to building on a 2025 memorandum of cooperation on rice trade, designed to keep rice supplies stable despite global supply chain disruptions. Singapore imports 90% of its food, underlining the importance of securing reliable partnerships with Vietnam and other ASEAN neighbors for food security [3, 4, 5]. Dr Tan See Leng and Dr Le Manh Hung said, "We acknowledge the importance of avoiding unnecessary restrictive measures to promote the trade of rice, which is an essential commodity" [3].
Merchandise trade between Singapore and Vietnam reached US$31.8 billion in 2025, highlighting the growing economic ties between the two countries [3, 4, 5].
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam remarked, "We meet at a time when the world is being reshaped. For countries like Singapore and Vietnam, these shifts are not abstract. They affect our livelihoods, our security, and the prospects for our next generation." He added, "It matters, therefore, that Singapore and Vietnam both share similar strategic outlooks" [1].
The next major event in the bilateral relationship will be the Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue on governance and public administration, scheduled to take place in Singapore in August 2026 [1, 2, 6].
