Phnom penh: Cambodia has expressed strong optimism that its bilateral trade volume with Vietnam will continue its upward trajectory to reach the US$20 billion target in the near future. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Santepundit Neth Savoeun made the remarks on Thursday during a reception in Phnom Penh celebrating the 81st National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Neth Savoeun emphasized the steady growth of comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, spanning sectors from politics to trade and people-to-people exchanges. Vietnam has retained its position as Cambodia's third-largest trading partner since 2022, following China and the United States. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed optimism about the potential for bilateral trade volume to reach the US$20 billion milestone soon.
In 2025, Vietnam was the third-largest source of foreign investment in Cambodia and ranked second among ASEAN member states, after Singapore. Tourism between the neighboring countries has also risen, with Vietnamese visitors leading foreign arrival numbers in Cambodia, while Cambodian tourists topped ASEAN visitors to Vietnam.
Infrastructure and regional connectivity have played a crucial role in supporting these economic ties. The two countries currently operate 87 direct flights per week through Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Air Cambodia. Cross-border land transit has been bolstered following the opening of the Meun Chey (Prey Veng)-Tan Nam (Tay Ninh) international border gate in December 2025, with the forthcoming Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway set to connect directly to Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City-Moc Bai expressway.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Nguyen Minh Vu highlighted Vietnam's recent economic progress, noting an 8.18 percent growth in the economy during the first half of 2026, with a government target of at least 10 percent growth for the year. He commended Cambodia's political stability, effective macroeconomic management, and growing diplomatic presence on the global stage.
Additionally, Cambodia is set to enhance its international presence by hosting the 2nd Inter-Parliamentary Summit (ISC-2) later this month and the Francophonie Summit in November. These significant engagements underscore the Kingdom's increasing diplomatic influence and are expected to further elevate its regional and global standing.