Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn leaves for official visits to South Korea and Mongolia

National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn and his wife, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nga, left Hanoi on Sept. 6 with a senior Vietnamese delegation for official visits to South Korea and Mongolia through Sept. 11.

The visits came at the invitation of South Korean National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong Sik and Mongolian Parliament Chairman Sandag Byambatsogt. The delegation included senior officials from Vietnam's government, National Assembly, defense and public security ministries, foreign ministry, party organizations and local administrations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyễn Minh Vũ said the trip marked Trần Thanh Mẫn's first official visit to both countries as National Assembly chairman. He said it demonstrated Vietnam's regard for its bilateral relationships and for parliamentary diplomacy as part of the country's broader foreign relations.

The South Korea visit is the first by a Vietnamese National Assembly chairman in five years. Vietnam and South Korea are expected to promote cooperation and expand into areas such as strategic technology and renewable energy. South Korea is Vietnam's second-largest investment partner, its second-largest source of tourists and official development assistance, its third-largest trade partner and its third-largest labor market. Bilateral trade reached $89.5 billion in 2025, up 9.6% from 2024.

The Mongolia visit follows a 23-year gap since the previous visit by a Vietnamese National Assembly chairman in 2003. Vietnam wants to make its comprehensive partnership more substantive and effective in sectors including the economy, trade, renewable energy, science and technology, culture, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges. Bilateral trade exceeded $155 million in 2025, while Vietnamese companies have undertaken or are undertaking large-scale energy projects in Mongolia.

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The visit by National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn to both countries for the first time in his capacity as National Assembly chairman demonstrates the importance Vietnam attaches to bilateral relations and the important role of the parliamentary channel in Vietnam's overall foreign relations with South Korea and Mongolia.