French President Emmanuel Macron certainly did when he completed his first formal visit to Vietnam this week. This trip was the first by a French president to the Southeast Asian nation in almost a decade. Joined by his wife, Brigitte, Macron was focused and energetic in the exchanges with Vietnamese leadership. They discussed prospects for greater collaboration in defense, aviation and other areas.
A fun moment opened the visit and it truly stole the media spotlight. In one clip, we can see Brigitte playfully shoving Macron’s face as the two of them remained on the aircraft. The Elysee Palace sought to minimize the embarrassment, calling it a “moment of tenderness” between the two.
During his visit, Macron met with key Vietnamese officials to discuss bilateral relations and reiterated France’s commitment to supporting freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. France had colonial control over Vietnam for nearly three-quarters of a century. They were forced to leave after a major military defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. This background makes it all the more extraordinary that Macron’s visit should be focused on reaffirming ties that stretch back 250 years.
On Tuesday, Macron’s schedule calls for a stop at a university in Hanoi. His goals are to increase educational cooperation and strengthen cultural exchange between France and Vietnam. From that visit in Vietnam, his next flight will go to Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. His immediate aim is to project France’s diplomatic footprint further into Southeast Asia.
In a way, it was the biggest success of Macron’s trip. He welcomed several major bilateral accords aimed at enhancing the strategic partnership between France and Vietnam. He stressed that this new partnership would involve “a step-up defense cooperation,” showing both countries’ commitment to working together to protect security in the region.
The biggest single deal was Airbus finalizing a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam’s state-run low-cost airline VietJet to buy up to 20 A330neo wide-body aircraft. This transaction builds on a similar agreement reached last year. It adds 20 more jets, but what’s far more important is the deepening aviation partnership between the two countries that it represents.
CMA CGM, the big French transport company, has made a landmark $18m agreement with Saigon Newport. They plan to construct a new deepwater container terminal in northern Vietnam. This project, slated for completion by 2028, represents a joint investment worth $600 million, highlighting France’s ongoing economic engagement in the region.
Macron’s trip bolsters France’s long-standing cultural ties with Vietnam. Beyond accelerating innovation today, it opens the door for new public-private partnerships—everything from defense to space tech. The agreements achieved in this visit are a strong indicator that both governments are eager to continue increasing economic cooperation and collaborating on pressing regional challenges.
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