When Cyril Ramaphosa stepped off the plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Thursday, October 23, 2025, the red carpet wasn’t just ceremonial—it was a signal. After nine years since his last visit as vice president, South Africa’s president arrived not just for protocol, but to reshape economic ties between two nations once united by anti-colonial solidarity, now bound by a shared ambition: to break free from outdated trade dependencies.
A Partnership Forged in History and Hopes
The visit, occurring as Vietnam marked 80 years since its independence declaration, carried symbolic weight. Ramaphosa laid wreaths at the Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum—acts of reverence that weren’t lost on Vietnamese officials. At the Presidential Palace, he walked beside President Lương Cường, inspecting a guard of honour drawn from the People’s Army of Vietnam, flags of both nations side by side. The military honours were precise, deliberate. This wasn’t a courtesy call. It was a coronation of a new phase."Vietnam is a close friend and important partner of South Africa in Asia," Ramaphosa said during talks, his tone firm but warm. "This visit affirms our determination to consolidate and advance the partnership." The words weren’t rhetoric. They were the opening line of a joint statement signed that afternoon, formally elevating bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership.
Trade, Not Just Talk
Behind the pomp was a hard-nosed economic agenda. South Africa’s exports to Vietnam have grown steadily—$230 million in 2023, up from $140 million in 2019. But Ramaphosa wants more. "Vietnam’s expanding consumer market presents promising opportunities for South African exporters," he told reporters after the wreath-laying. The target sectors? Defence equipment, citrus and wine, mineral processing, and renewable energy components. South Africa’s mining sector, long dependent on China and Europe, is now looking east. Vietnam, meanwhile, needs raw materials for its booming manufacturing base—and sees South Africa as a reliable, non-Western supplier.Ministers from both sides—Defence, Trade, Agriculture, Justice, Mineral Resources, and Police—sat down for three hours of closed-door talks. The outcome? A roadmap. Joint working groups will be established by December 2025. One will focus on agricultural technology transfer; another on mineral supply chains. "We’re not just signing documents," said Minister Ronald Lamola, who accompanied Ramaphosa. "We’re building infrastructure for cooperation. That means shared standards, joint certification, and direct logistics links."
The ASEAN Connection
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. South Africa’s recent designation as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN—a status granted after its participation in the 47th ASEAN Summit—gives it a seat at the table in Southeast Asia’s most powerful economic bloc. Vietnam, ASEAN’s 2020 chair and a global export powerhouse, is now South Africa’s gateway. "The Bandung Conference of 1955 wasn’t just about solidarity," Ramaphosa noted in his press conference. "It was about self-reliance. We’re reviving that spirit—not in protest, but in practice."For South Africa, the stakes are high. With domestic demand sluggish and Western markets tightening, diversifying exports isn’t optional—it’s existential. Vietnam, with its 100 million consumers and rising middle class, is a natural fit. But so are the lessons it offers: how a post-war nation built a manufacturing engine without foreign dependency. "They didn’t wait for permission," said Dr. Naledi Mokoena, an economist at the University of Johannesburg. "They invested in vocational training, built export zones, and stayed consistent. That’s what South Africa needs to emulate."
The Business Forum: Where Deals Are Made
The highlight of the visit came Friday morning: the Vietnam-South Africa Business ForumHanoi. Over 200 executives from both countries gathered—South African agribusinesses, mining firms, and fintech startups; Vietnamese logistics giants, electronics manufacturers, and pharmaceutical distributors. Ramaphosa didn’t just speak—he sold. "We’re not asking for charity," he told the crowd. "We’re offering value. Our platinum group metals can help your EV batteries. Our wine can grace your tables. Our security tech can protect your ports."By midday, preliminary agreements were signed: a $120 million deal between South African mining group AngloGold Ashanti and Vietnamese steel producer Hoa Phat to supply chromite; a memorandum of understanding between the University of Pretoria and Hanoi University of Science and Technology on joint research in biodiversity conservation; and a $45 million deal for South African citrus exporters to access Vietnam’s duty-free retail channels.
What’s Next?
The next milestone? A Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected in Pretoria by May 2026. They’ll tour South Africa’s Special Economic Zones and meet with the South African Revenue Service to streamline customs protocols. A visa waiver pilot for business travelers is also under discussion. If implemented, it could boost trade missions by 40% within two years.But the real test will be implementation. Past agreements—like the 2018 cooperation pact on mineral resources—suffered from bureaucratic inertia. This time, both sides have embedded accountability. Each sectoral working group must submit progress reports every six months. Failure to meet targets could trigger diplomatic friction. "We’re not here for photo ops," said Ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo. "We’re here for results."
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about two countries trading goods. It’s about a global realignment. As Western influence wanes in Africa and Asia, nations like South Africa and Vietnam are forging new alliances—based on mutual interest, not aid. For African exporters, Vietnam is no longer just a manufacturing hub. It’s a market. A mentor. A mirror.And for South Africa, this visit is a lifeline. With inflation squeezing consumers and unemployment hovering near 33%, tapping into Asia’s growth isn’t ambition—it’s survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Strategic Partnership mean for South African businesses?
It opens direct access to Vietnam’s $400 billion economy with reduced tariffs and joint certification programs. Key sectors like agriculture, mining, and tech now have clear pathways to enter Vietnamese markets. For example, South African citrus exporters can bypass EU intermediaries and sell directly to Vietnamese supermarkets under a new duty-free arrangement signed during the forum.
Why is Vietnam such a strategic partner for South Africa?
Vietnam’s manufacturing base, young population, and export-driven growth make it a critical alternative to traditional Western markets. With China’s economy slowing, South Africa sees Vietnam as a stable, scalable partner. Plus, Vietnam’s success in building domestic industry without foreign dependency offers a blueprint South Africa is eager to learn from.
How does this fit into South Africa’s broader foreign policy?
This visit is part of South Africa’s "Look East" strategy, accelerated after becoming an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner. The goal is to reduce reliance on Europe and North America by building trade and diplomatic ties across Asia. Vietnam, as ASEAN’s economic powerhouse, is the linchpin. Similar outreach is underway with Indonesia and Malaysia.
What sectors are seeing the most immediate gains?
Defence equipment, citrus, wine, platinum group metals, and renewable energy components are leading. A $120 million chromite supply deal was signed, and South African wine exports to Vietnam are projected to grow 75% by 2027. Joint research in biodiversity conservation is also advancing, with pilot projects planned in Kruger National Park and Vietnam’s Cuc Phuong National Park.
What’s the timeline for implementation of the partnership?
Working groups in defence, agriculture, and minerals will submit their first reports by June 2026. Visa waiver talks are expected to conclude by March 2026, with pilot programs launching in July. A joint trade fair in Johannesburg is scheduled for November 2026, featuring 50 Vietnamese companies. The full partnership framework will be reviewed at the next bilateral summit in 2027.
Is this partnership politically controversial in South Africa?
Some opposition parties question the focus on Asia while local industries struggle. But the government argues that without diversification, South Africa risks economic stagnation. The fact that 80% of the agreements signed involve private-sector partnerships—rather than state-to-state aid—has helped ease concerns about fiscal burden.
