Chilean President José Antonio Kast and First Lady María Pía Adriasola Barroilhet will travel to Vietnam from November 15 to 17. Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the visit at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse. The trip marks the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Both leaders say they will look for closer economic cooperation.

Solidarity between Chile and Vietnam began in the 1960s, when many Chileans supported Vietnam’s struggle for independence and reunification. In May 1969, Salvador Allende, then President of the Chilean Senate, visited Vietnam and met President Ho Chi Minh, creating a powerful symbol of solidarity. Building on that foundation, Chile became the first South American country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1971.

Bilateral trade topped $2.1 billion in 2025, a 39 % rise from the year before. Vietnam is Chile’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Chile ranks as Vietnam’s third‑largest export market in Latin America.

Both governments see new collaboration areas in green growth, digital transformation, clean energy and strategic mineral extraction. These sectors promise to diversify the partnership beyond traditional trade. The two sides intend to turn these opportunities into concrete projects during the visit.

The upcoming visit highlights how a historic friendship has evolved into a major economic alliance. Observers can expect the Chile‑Vietnam relationship to grow even stronger in the years ahead.