In the early hours of March 31, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium touched down in Hanoi to begin a state visit to Vietnam, marking a historic milestone in bilateral relations.

The royal couple was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Vice Chief of the Presidential Office Phan Thi Kim Oanh, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao.

A royal visit of historic scale

The visit, taking place from March 31 to April 4, comes at the invitation of President Luong Cuong and his spouse Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet. It marks the first-ever state-level royal visit to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic ties more than 50 years ago.

Joining the King and Queen is an exceptionally high-level delegation of nearly 150 representatives, including Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, ministers and governors of the Brussels-Capital Region, Wallonia-Brussels Community, Wallonia Region, and the Flemish Region, alongside top royal officials and diplomats.

Notably, the delegation features 34 CEOs from leading Belgian and EU corporations in logistics, port operations, renewable energy, climate adaptation, healthcare, and food industries. An additional 16 leaders from Belgium’s top universities and research institutions are also part of the visit.

This diverse and influential delegation highlights Belgium’s strong interest in Vietnam and reflects the Southeast Asian country’s rising profile in the Asia-Pacific.

Strengthening ties with real impact

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will attend an official welcome ceremony hosted by President Luong Cuong, hold meetings with Vietnam’s top leaders, and travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong to explore further cooperation opportunities.

King Philippe previously visited Vietnam in 1994, 2008, and 2012 as Crown Prince, each time accompanied by Belgian business delegations. Queen Mathilde also made three visits, including one in 2023 as Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium, when she visited ethnic minority children in Lao Cai.

Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van Den Bossche emphasized the royal family’s deep affection and familiarity with Vietnam, underlining the significance of this visit in both symbolic and practical terms.

From diplomacy to trade: a 50-year journey

Belgium was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1973. Today, the two nations stand at the threshold of a new era of cooperation.

Bilateral trade reached USD 4.45 billion in 2024. Belgium is Vietnam’s sixth-largest export market in Europe, while Vietnam is Belgium’s top trading partner in ASEAN. The Port of Antwerp-Zeebrugge - the largest in Europe - plays a key role in facilitating Vietnam’s exports to the EU.

As strategic partners in agriculture, the two countries are also working closely on research, logistics, cocoa industry development, food safety, and sustainable farming practices.

Ambassador Bossche expressed hope that the visit would result in numerous high-level agreements and cooperation documents, paving the way for deeper, more practical ties in trade, education, climate, and innovation.

Tran Thuong