Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government, has arrived in Vietnam for a three-day visit to discuss normalizing relations between their countries. Min Aung Hlaing will meet with Vietnamese President To Lam and other officials during his trip, which is part of an effort to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated after he ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in 2021. Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Myanmar has decreased significantly, from $853 million in 2020 to $335 million in the first half of 2026. This visit marks Min Aung Hlaing's third trip to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations member state as he seeks to restore his standing within the bloc.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
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Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of Myanmar's military-backed government, arrived in Vietnam on Friday for talks with Vietnamese President To Lam and other senior officials. This visit is part of Min Aung Hlaing's effort to normalize relations with Southeast Asian countries and attract foreign investment, after years of diplomatic isolation following his 2021 takeover that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government. He has been seeking to restore his standing within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc of 11 member states including Myanmar and Vietnam. This is Min Aung Hlaing's third visit to an ASEAN member state, after traveling to India, China, Laos, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Russia. The visit is seen as part of an attempt to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated following his takeover.
Written for “Myanmar-Vietnam Diplomatic Ties” on 2026-09-05,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 3742 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
Myanmar military head visits Vietnam to normalize relations
BANGKOK —
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head → visit → relations
The leader of Myanmar's military-backed government arrived Friday in Vietnam for talks with Vietnamese leaders in his latest effort to normalize relations with other Southeast Asian countries and attract foreign investment.
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leader → back → investment
Min Aung Hlaing has stepped up his diplomatic engagements since he was sworn in as president in April following an election that critics say was designed to cement the military's hold on power.
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critics → step → power
The outreach is part of an attempt to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated after Min Aung Hlaing ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in February 2021 while serving as army chief.
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Hlaing → rebuild → chief
Friday's trip marks Min Aung Hlaing's third visit to an Association of Southeast Asian Nations member state as he seeks to restore his standing within the 11-member bloc, to which Myanmar and Vietnam belong.
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Myanmar → mark → which
Min Aung Hlaing faced years of diplomatic isolation following his 2021 takeover and was barred from top-level ASEAN meetings for failing to comply with a peace plan for Myanmar adopted by the bloc in April 2021.
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Hlaing → face → April
He has traveled to India, China, Laos, Thailand and most recently Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia, where he met with leaders and sought to attract foreign investment through business forums.
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he → travel → forums
State-run MRTV television said Min Aung Hlaing landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, at noon.
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Hlaing → run → noon
He is expected to meet during his three-day visit with Vietnamese President To Lam and other senior officials and attend a business forum with members of his Cabinet.
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He → expect → Cabinet
Vietnam has maintained longstanding military ties with Myanmar, including defense cooperation and the involvement of Viettel, Vietnam's military-run telecommunications group, in Mytel, one of Myanmar's major telecom operators.
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Vietnam → maintain → operators
Economic ties, however, have weakened, with bilateral trade falling from $853 million in 2020 to $590 million in 2025 and $335 million in the first half of 2026, figures Min Aung Hlaing shared with Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung when they met in Myanmar in late August, according to Vietnam's foreign ministry.
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they → weaken → ministry
Western governments have shunned and sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and his associates for overthrowing Suu Kyi's government and for serious human rights violations committed since.
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governments → shun → violations
The military's deadly crackdown on protests helped trigger a nationwide armed resistance movement and a bloody civil war.
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crackdown → help → movement
