Thailand welcomes Vietnam’s top leader To Lam with 21-gun salute in Bangkok

The salute was fired as the Vietnamese leader, accompanied by his wife and a high-level delegation, arrived in the Thai capital after concluding activities in Udon Thani, northeastern Thailand, continuing his official visit scheduled for Wednesday to Friday.

The visit, made at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his spouse, comes as the two Southeast Asian nations mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation at Don Mueang Airport were Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt and other senior government officials, along with Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya.

They were joined by Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy.

The ceremonial reception featured a guard of honor lining a red carpet, followed by the 21-gun salute, a protocol reserved for particularly significant state visits, reflecting Thailand’s high respect for the Vietnamese leader and his delegation, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

During the visit, Lam is expected to meet with the Thai King and Queen, the prime minister, and other senior officials to discuss key directions for advancing bilateral cooperation frameworks.

He is also scheduled to attend the Vietnam–Thailand Business Forum and witness the signing of several cooperation agreements, along with other official engagements.

The trip marks the first visit by Vietnam’s top leader to a Southeast Asian country since the new leadership of the Party and state was elected in April, underscoring what Vietnamese officials described as a strong prioritization of ties with regional partners.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong said the timing reflects Vietnam’s ‘high regard’ for ties with Thailand and the broader ASEAN region.

Both sides are expected to advance discussions on a 2026-31 action plan, which Thai Ambassador Sriphiromya has depicted as a comprehensive framework covering wide-ranging areas of cooperation, aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties and supporting shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.