Article written: October 8, 2026
What did Panama sign during President Mulino’s visit to Vietnam?
Nine agreements and memoranda of understanding, signed in Hanoi on October 6. They cover agriculture, maritime training, customs, security, tourism, aviation and diplomatic cooperation. It was the first visit by a Panamanian president to Vietnam in 14 years.
President José Raúl Mulino was received by Vietnamese leader To Lam, and the documents were signed by Foreign Ministers Javier Martínez-Acha and Le Hoai Trung. Vietnam also announced it will reopen its embassy in Panama in early 2027.
What Do the Panama-Vietnam Agreements Cover?
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Agriculture (2 instruments) | Technical assistance and knowledge transfer, including a deal between Panama’s agricultural research institute Idiap and the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Maritime education | Cooperation between the two countries’ maritime universities |
| Customs | A framework for customs cooperation |
| Security | Crime prevention and fight against crime |
| Tourism | Incentives to develop tourism between both countries |
| Aviation | Cooperation between civil aviation authorities to improve air connectivity |
| Diplomacy | Joint training between the two diplomatic academies |
Official reports itemized these areas but did not detail the content of each instrument, so the practical impact will depend on how they are implemented.
Why Does Vietnam See Panama as Its Gateway to Latin America?
To Lam offered to act as a bridge between Panama and Southeast Asian markets, and said Vietnam would support Panama’s interest in moving closer to APEC, the 21-economy Asia-Pacific trade forum.
Mulino, in turn, presented Panama as a platform for Vietnamese companies expanding into Latin America and the Caribbean, pointing to the Canal, the ports, the free zones, air and sea connectivity and the international financial center.
Vietnam also committed to sending a high-level delegation, including industry representatives, to the III Latin America and Caribbean Economic Forum, which Panama will host in January 2027.
How Connected Are Panama and Vietnam Already?
More than most people would guess. The two countries established diplomatic relations on August 28, 1975, and Vietnam was the first country to join the 1979 protocol on the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal.
Mulino said more than 25,000 Vietnamese seafarers work aboard Panamanian-flagged merchant ships, a reminder of how large Panama’s ship registry is in global shipping.
Trade has historically been modest but steady. Panama has mainly sold wood, especially teak, to Vietnam, while Vietnamese products arriving in Panama have included office machines, seafood, washing machines, furniture, cell phones, cinnamon and pepper, much of it moving through the Colón Free Zone. To Lam also praised the international reputation and high prices of Panamanian coffee.
Who Traveled With Mulino to Vietnam?
The delegation included Agricultural Development Minister Roberto Linares, Canal Affairs Minister José Ramón Icaza, Tocumen International Airport general manager José Ruiz and the Presidency’s Secretary of Economic Affairs and Competitiveness, Kristelle Getzler. The mix of agriculture, Canal and airport officials reflects where Panama hopes to see results first.
Vietnam is one of Asia’s fastest-growing manufacturing economies, and Panama has spent decades positioning itself as the place where Asian goods enter the Americas. Whether these nine documents turn into flights, trade and investment will become clearer when Vietnam’s embassy reopens and its business delegation arrives in Panama next year.
Sources: La Estrella de Panamá, Infobae, La Prensa.
