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CCIFV NEWS | PRESIDENT TÔ LÂM IN FRANCE: NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRENCH BUSINESSES IN VIETNAM
President Tô Lâm’s visit to France opens new opportunities to strengthen economic and technological cooperation between France and Vietnam.
At the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron, Mr. Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, paid an official visit to France from 10 to 12 September 2026, notably taking part in the International Space Summit in Paris. This diplomatic sequence comes within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established between the two countries in October 2024, and against a backdrop of strengthening economic ties.
A strengthened bilateral framework since 2024
In October 2024, France and Vietnam elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making France the first European country to obtain this status from Hanoi. This development broadened the framework for cooperation between the two countries, particularly in transport, energy, aerospace, science and technology, innovation, defence and education.
The year 2024 provides an important reference point for understanding the current momentum in France-Vietnam relations, although it is not the only indicator of their evolution. In 2025, trade in goods between France and Vietnam reached €9.2 billion, up 7.7% year-on-year, according to French customs data.
The September 2026 visit therefore builds on an already established dynamic, with the objective of pursuing the concrete implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and identifying new areas for economic, technological and industrial cooperation.
Key sectors identified as priorities
Several areas appear particularly promising for France-Vietnam economic cooperation:
- Infrastructure and transport. Development of metro networks in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the North-South high-speed railway project, and the modernisation of logistics and port infrastructure. French companies such as Artelia and SYSTRA already have significant experience in Vietnam in engineering, consulting and mobility, while Alstom is active in rolling stock and railway signalling, and CMA CGM in maritime transport and port logistics.
- Energy, including civil nuclear power. France has a recognised industrial value chain in this field, with EDF among the companies active in the sector. Beyond power-generation infrastructure, Vietnam's needs also include the training of engineers and technicians, nuclear safety expertise, and the development of the skills required to support complex energy projects.
- Innovation and strategic technologies. Semiconductors, aerospace and space, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and data are areas where France-Vietnam complementarities could be further strengthened. The presence of companies such as Thales, Airbus and Capgemini, together with scientific and university cooperation, already contributes to this momentum.
- International financial centres. Plans to establish international financial centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang could create new opportunities for French banks, asset managers, insurers, consulting firms and fintech companies seeking to support the development of Vietnam's financial sector.
- Healthcare, agri-food, green transition and retail. These sectors also continue to offer opportunities for French companies. Sanofi, in partnership with VNVC, as well as Bel, Accor and Decathlon, each illustrate the diversity of French business activity in Vietnam.
The role of CCIFV at the heart of the France-Vietnam business community
CCIFV currently brings together 300 member companies and is part of the global CCI France International network, which comprises 120 chambers in 95 countries. Its mission is to foster the France-Vietnam business community and support French and Vietnamese companies in their international development.
10 September, the central day of the visit:
- In the morning, CCIFV co-organised in Paris, together with MEDEF International and the French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCE, Vietnam Committee), the conference “Vietnam: Getting on Board the Growth Train.” The high-level meeting brought together business leaders and experts to examine Vietnam's economic dynamics, identify business opportunities and share practical experience of the Vietnamese market. Participants included Thibaut Giroux, President of CCIFV; Jean-Charles Belliol, President of the CCE Vietnam Committee; and Eric Gratton, Managing Director of Artelia Vietnam. The discussions were moderated by Adam Koulaksezian, Executive Director of CCIFV.
- In the afternoon, the second edition of the France Vietnam Leaders Forum (VFLF) took place, marked by the exceptional presence of the two heads of state, Emmanuel Macron and Tô Lâm. The forum was co-chaired by Mr. Ngô Văn Tuấn, Vietnam's Minister of Finance, and Mr. Benoît Clocheret, Executive Chairman of Artelia and Chairman of the France-Vietnam Business Council of MEDEF International. The event brought together a high-level Vietnamese delegation, including ministers and major business groups, alongside senior French representatives, with around twenty business leaders and the participation of Ministers Nicolas Forissier and Sébastien Martin, Minister Delegate for Industry. During the forum, Tô Lâm called on the two countries to build more substantial, balanced and technology-oriented economic cooperation.
- In the evening, President Macron hosted a state dinner in honour of Tô Lâm, attended by Thibaut Giroux, President of CCIFV, reflecting CCIFV's role in bilateral economic exchanges.
Through its activities, CCIFV helps create the conditions for regular dialogue between businesses, institutions and economic stakeholders in France and Vietnam. Against a backdrop of strengthened bilateral relations, it serves as a key meeting point for developing opportunities, sharing market insights and supporting companies in their development projects in Vietnam.
What French investors are watching
Beyond diplomatic announcements, several conditions remain important for enabling France-Vietnam cooperation to move from trade exchanges towards long-term industrial and technological partnerships:
- Regulatory predictability. Greater stability and clarity regarding the rules governing investment, authorisations, land, energy, data and intellectual property, particularly at the local level where projects are implemented.
- Skills development. The development of French-Vietnamese training and cooperation programmes in sectors facing strong demand for skilled professionals, including semiconductors, aerospace, energy, digital technologies and advanced technologies.
- Visibility on major strategic projects. Greater clarity on the timelines and implementation of major public projects in transport, energy, infrastructure and digital technologies, as well as on market-access conditions for international companies.
In conclusion
President Tô Lâm's official visit to France from 10 to 12 September 2026, together with his participation in the International Space Summit in Paris, takes place within a France-Vietnam relationship now structured around a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Nearly two years after its establishment, this new diplomatic sequence provides an opportunity to further translate this political framework into concrete economic, industrial, scientific and technological cooperation.
For the French business community in Vietnam, and for CCIFV in particular, the challenge is to contribute to this momentum by fostering dialogue between businesses and institutions, identifying market opportunities and supporting the development of long-term partnerships. In transport, energy, innovation, healthcare and strategic technologies, numerous opportunities exist to strengthen the French business presence and contribute to Vietnam's development ambitions.
Sources:
- CCIFV – Vietnam: Getting on Board the Growth Train
- Tuổi Trẻ – Việt Nam mới, cơ hội đầu tư mới cho doanh nghiệp Pháp
- VietnamPlus
- Nhân Dân
- Government News – Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- France Diplomatie – Vietnam: Politics and Economy
- Élysée – Joint Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between France and Vietnam
