Connecting German expertise with Vietnamese ambition

Vietnam’s strategic position in Southeast Asia and Germany’s industrial and technological strengths form a natural partnership.

- By Peter Kompalla

The task for 2026 is to translate this shared momentum into execution with focus, reliability, and mutual commitment.In late 2025, Germany reaffirmed its growing economic interest in Vietnam through a series of high-level political and business engagements. Most notable was the strong alignment between both governments and the private sector on deepening cooperation in energy, infrastructure, skills development, and industrial modernisation - areas where German companies are already actively investing and expanding their footprint.

This momentum was reflected in Germany. In 2025, Vietnam featured prominently in a wide range of business forums, delegation programmes, and market briefings organised by Germany's nationwide chamber network and its international business platforms. On the trade front, bilateral exchanges between Vietnam and Germany maintained a strong trajectory in 2025, with total trade reaching $20.17 billion in the first 10 months, an 18.8 per cent rise on-year. Notably, German exports to Vietnam surged 22 per cent, underlining robust Vietnamese demand for high-quality machinery, equipment, and industrial inputs. Meanwhile, Vietnamese exports to Germany rose by a moderate 3.6 per cent, reflecting stable but less accelerated demand. These figures, sourced from the German Federal Statistical Office, highlight a deepening trade relationship increasingly driven by Germany's role in supporting Vietnam's industrial and infrastructure development.