His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan. (Photo: VGP)
Vietnam and Bhutan established diplomatic relations on January 19, 2012. Since then, the two countries have maintained friendly relations, with high-level leaders frequently exchanging messages on key occasions.
Two-way trade between Vietnam and Bhutan remains modest, at approximately USD 20,000 per year. Vietnam has two investment projects in Bhutan with a total registered capital of USD 937,000.
Both countries also have significant potential for tourism, particularly Buddhist and spiritual tourism. In late 2024, Bhutan Airlines announced to operate a direct route between Vietnam and Bhutan with 10 fixed round-trip flights departing from Ho Chi Minh City.
Cultural and tourism exchanges are growing, with an increasing number of Vietnamese tourists showing interest in Bhutan, a country known as the “Kingdom of Happiness,” with pristine nature and meditation experiences.
The two countries are also exploring cooperation in religion, particularly Buddhism, as well as in education and human resource exchanges. Bhutan values collaboration with Vietnam in academic and cultural exchanges and in promoting people-to-people interactions at regional and international forums.
