Vietnam and Malaysia
Vietnam and Malaysia coordinate a comprehensive strategic partnership with maritime, energy and food interests. In December 2025, their prime ministers were preparing a new action plan and proposed expanding fisheries cooperation, while also addressing tensions between ASEAN neighbours.
Analysis reviewed: 2026-10-08 · Indicators updated: 2026-10-08Bilateral context
Pham Minh Chinh and Anwar Ibrahim spoke on 12 December 2025 following their meeting the previous month during the G20.
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, goods trade between Vietnam and Malaysia totalled 24,872.2 million current USD.
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Vietnam to Malaysia, at 3,892.1 million USD in 2025.
Bilateral indicators
Blank cells: data unavailable.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Goods trade | 24,872.24 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: Vietnam to Malaysia | 8,652.92 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Goods: Malaysia to Vietnam | 16,219.33 M USD | 2025 · Comtrade |
| Services trade | ||
| Export share: Vietnam to Malaysia | ||
| Export share: Malaysia to Vietnam | ||
| Investment stock: Vietnam in Malaysia | ||
| Investment stock: Malaysia in Vietnam |
Definitions and sources
Trade adds both directions. Shares refer to the country’s total goods exports; investment is an accumulated stock, not an annual flow. Every figure retains the currency and period of its source. BEA positions are historical-cost estimates based on the immediate counterpart, not market values or investment by ultimate owner. ‘More than’ indicates a lower bound, not an exact amount. A recorded stock does not establish new activity or authorisation to operate under sanctions.
- Goods trade
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter MYS. Both directions come from the same verified customs document, not from adding mirror declarations together. Exports generally FOB; imports generally CIF.
- Goods: Vietnam to Malaysia
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter MYS. Both directions come from the same verified customs document, not from adding mirror declarations together. Exports generally FOB; imports generally CIF.
- Goods: Malaysia to Vietnam
- 2025 · UN Comtrade · Goods; full calendar year; reporter MYS. Both directions come from the same verified customs document, not from adding mirror declarations together. Exports generally FOB; imports generally CIF.
Country comparison
Period and source beside each figure · est. = estimate by the stated institution.
| Indicator | Vietnam | Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | 514.7 billion USD2025 · World Bank | 472.19 billion USD2025 · WB |
| GDP per capita | 5,065.99 USD2025 · World Bank | 13,124.56 USD2025 · WB |
| GDP growth | 8.02 %2025 · World Bank | 5.17 %2025 · WB |
| Policy interest rate | ||
| Inflation · annual average | 3.31 %Annual average · 2025 · World Bank | 1.38 %Annual average · 2025 · WB |
| Inflation · latest year-on-year figure | ||
| Unemployment | 1.52 %ILO est.2025 · World Bank | 3.76 %ILO est.2025 · WB |
| Budget balance (% of GDP) | -2.2 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | -3.5 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Gross public debt (% of GDP) | 30.3 %IMF est.2025 · IMF | 70.7 %IMF est.2025 · IMF |
| Current account balance (% of GDP) | 6.33 %2024 · World Bank | 1.69 %2024 · WB |
| Population | 101,598,5272025 · World Bank | 35,977,8382025 · WB |
| Area | 331,338 km²2023 · World Bank | 330,411 km²2023 · WB |
| Military expenditure | ||
| Military expenditure (% of GDP) |
Definitions, dates and sources
Blank cells are not zero. Average annual inflation and the latest year-on-year figure appear in separate rows: they are not the same measure. Every annual indicator retains its reference year; when the years differ, the figures are identified as not directly comparable. When a figure is unavailable from the World Bank, an annual IMF estimate is used and identified as such. The latest year-on-year figure is the latest official release verified as of 7 October 2026. This includes advance releases marked as provisional. Mexico may have a fortnightly figure before the full month is published; it is not automatically compared with a monthly figure. The publication date is retained in each source’s details; it does not replace the observation period or the annual average. Policy rates carry their own dates and represent different instruments. Spain and France share the ECB rate. Balances are positive for surpluses and negative for deficits. The IMF may use fiscal years; unemployment retains each source’s definition (ILO estimates, IMF WEO or PCBS), as stated in the details. For Palestine, debt and the fiscal balance cover central government and retain the PCBS definition; they are not presented as consolidated general government. These are economic magnitudes, not measures of relationship quality.
Area retains each source’s territorial coverage; it does not determine sovereignty or effective control. Canada uses an archived national geographic reference. Military expenditure retains the 2024 SIPRI sample distributed by the World Bank: the amount and percentage of GDP use that same definition, which differs from NATO’s. It is not an approved budget or a 2026 figure. Information from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Military expenditure database · Terms of use0
Indicators reviewed: 2026-10-07. Each source retains its original access date; this review does not turn all the data into 2026 observations. Figures may be revised.
- Nominal GDP
- Current USDVietnam: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP per capita
- Current USD per personVietnam: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- GDP growth
- Annual real change (%)Vietnam: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Policy interest rate
- Central bank instrument (%)
- Inflation · annual average
- Average annual change in headline CPI (%)Vietnam: 2025 · Annual average change in CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2025 · Annual average change in the CPI (%) · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Inflation · latest year-on-year figure
- Headline CPI relative to the same period of the previous year (%); monthly or fortnightly frequency stated
- Unemployment
- % of the labour force; definition used by the stated institutionVietnam: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate, percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2025 · ILO modelled estimate; percentage of the labour force · World Bank · ILO est. · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Budget balance
- General government (% of GDP)Vietnam: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.Malaysia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Gross public debt
- General government (% of GDP)Vietnam: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · IMF WEO general-government estimate. Retains the source’s fiscal year when it differs from the calendar year.Malaysia: 2025 · IMF · IMF est. · WEO general-government estimate, % of GDP. Not an observed balance for the current month.
- Current account balance
- % of GDPVietnam: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2024 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Population
- PeopleVietnam: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2025 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Area
- Total area in km²; territorial coverage of the sourceVietnam: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series; observation period, not download date.Malaysia: 2023 · World Bank · Official World Bank series. Observation year, not download date.
- Military expenditure
- Current USD per year; SIPRI series
- Military expenditure (% of GDP)
- Percentage of GDP; SIPRI definition, not NATO’s definition
Other data specific to this relationship
What they buy and sell
Documented selection, not an exhaustive list. Cells without a figure do not mean zero value; some products are identified without a verified amount.
Vietnam to Malaysia
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 3,892.1 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 978.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 100.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 61.2 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 8.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 1.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 0.396 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 0.0532 M USD2025 · Source |
Malaysia to Vietnam
| Product or sector | Value / share |
|---|---|
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 7,315.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Mineral fuels and oils | 1,913.3 M USD2025 · Source |
| Machinery and mechanical appliances | 1,357.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Metal ores | 379.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Vehicles and components | 156.9 M USD2025 · Source |
| Pharmaceutical products | 36.7 M USD2025 · Source |
| Dairy products, eggs and honey | 6.4 M USD2025 · Source |
| Meat and edible offal | 1.2 M USD2025 · Source |
How trade has changed
Billions of current USD · full calendar years
View chart figures
| Period | Total | Vietnam to Malaysia | Malaysia to Vietnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 16,717.5 | 5,735.4 | 10,982.1 |
| 2022 | 19,397.5 | 7,213.4 | 12,184.1 |
| 2023 | 17,415.3 | 6,010.7 | 11,404.6 |
| 2024 | 18,160.6 | 6,391.3 | 11,769.4 |
| 2025 | 24,872.2 | 8,652.9 | 16,219.3 |
Connections between people
Residents, study and travel
Blank cells: data unavailable. Each measure retains its definition and period.
| Indicator | Value | Period / source |
|---|---|---|
| Residents from Vietnam living in Malaysia | ||
| Residents from Malaysia living in Vietnam | ||
| Study and training: Vietnam in Malaysia | ||
| Study and training: Malaysia in Vietnam | ||
| Academic stays: Vietnam in Malaysia | ||
| Academic stays: Malaysia in Vietnam | ||
| Travel: Vietnam to Malaysia | ||
| Travel: Malaysia to Vietnam |
What each figure measures
Residents are counted by nationality and the coverage of the stated register, not as people born in the other country or as new arrivals in one year. PERE includes dual nationals and people born outside Spain. Study with OPT and stays carrying academic credit are different measures. Travel may include several visits by the same person; FRONTUR arrivals require an overnight stay, whereas the Canadian survey includes day visits. These figures are neither added together nor automatically compared across directions.
Mobility data added or reviewed: 2026-10-07. Reference periods may be earlier.
Underlying ties
History, institutions and long-standing issues.
The scale of both economies
Nominal GDP for Vietnam is 514.7 billion USD (2025), compared with 472.2 for Malaysia (2025). The reference populations are 101.6 and 35.98 million, respectively. In the same year, the economy of Vietnam was 1.09 times that of Malaysia in nominal GDP. The comparison provides context on market size, but does not, on its own, measure influence, well-being or diplomatic closeness. Estimates and their sources retain their labels in the tables. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Recent developments
Recent developments and latest available data · Review: 2026-10-08
Bilateral context
Pham Minh Chinh and Anwar Ibrahim spoke on 12 December 2025 following their meeting the previous month during the G20. They agreed to move towards formal adoption of the comprehensive strategic partnership’s 2026–2030 plan and set a trade target of twenty billion dollars; this is a target, not an observed outcome. [1]
Cooperation and bilateral issues
Vietnam proposed greater collaboration on rice and maritime affairs, prioritising Petrovietnam and Petronas in oil and gas. It also proposed joint fishing and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Both expressed concern about tensions between Cambodia and Thailand and called for restraint, dialogue and non-use of force. The call links bilateral interests with ASEAN cohesion, without confirming subsequent adoption of the plan. [1]
What merchandise trade shows
In 2025, merchandise trade between the two countries (Vietnam and Malaysia) totalled 24,872.2 million current USD. Shipments from the first to the second were 8,652.9 million; those in the opposite direction, 16,219.3 million. The difference between the two flows was 7,566.4 million, in favour of Malaysia. This is a goods balance, not the total balance of the economic relationship: it excludes services, income and transfers. Both directions come from a single customs reporter to avoid adding mirror records. [2]
Five years of trade trends
The consistent series shows 16,717.5 million USD in 2021 and 24,872.2 million in 2025. The change between the two endpoints was +48.8 % in current dollars. The highest annual value in the period was recorded in 2025, at 24,872.2 million. The chart allows the two directions to be compared to see whether they moved together or differently. The change combines quantities, prices and exchange rates; it is not automatically attributed to a treaty, a visit or a political decision. The same reporter is retained and missing years are not interpolated. [2]
Documented trade sectors
Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Vietnam to Malaysia, at 3,892.1 million USD in 2025. Within the selected chapters, electrical and electronic equipment stands out in shipments from Malaysia to Vietnam, at 7,315.3 million USD in 2025. The table compares eight selected chapters with the same coverage as the trade total. It is not a complete list or proof that the first item in this selection is the leading product across the entire relationship. A chapter groups numerous goods: machinery and components, for example, do not describe a single business transaction. [3]
Sources and data
Periods and scope of the figures
Institutional sources and periods accompany each figure. Annual trade, investment positions, residents and visits are distinct measures. Empty cells do not mean zero. Statements of intent are not presented as project implementation or treaties in force.
- Bilateral relations — MYS-VNM
web.mofa.gov.vn · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- UN Comtrade annual data; reused verified primary payload, not re-downloaded
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record
UN Comtrade · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-08
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; country ISO and year preserved; no military data; exact requested country subset independently re-fetched and values compared
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
- SP.POP.TOTL; ISO and reference year; no military dataset expansion
World Bank · Institutional source · Accessed: 2026-10-07
Additional sources on products and human connections
- UN Comtrade
2026-10-08 · Accessed: 2026-10-08 · Bounded matrix; reporter, partner, year, chapter and direction identified in each record.