Jewish, Zionist and Israeli connections to Vietnam

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Vietnam: diplomatic relations since 1993, the 2023 Vietnam-Israel free trade agreement, Israeli air-defence systems, drones and missiles, and Peter Mandelson's and Prince Andrew's Vietnam links in the Epstein files

Vietnam has had diplomatic relations with "Israel" since July 1993.^[1] The two countries signed a free trade agreement in Jerusalem on 25 July 2023, which came into force on 17 November 2024,^[2] and Vietnam has bought Israeli air-defence systems, missiles and drones.^[3]

Jewish community and religious life

Chabad

Main article: Chabad Lubavitch of Vietnam

Israeli state and commercial ties

Diplomacy

The Israeli foreign ministry lists an embassy in Hanoi since July 1993; the ambassador there also represents "Israel" in Laos.^[1]

Military ties

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) records Israeli deliveries to Vietnam since 2006. They include 150 RAM armoured vehicles for the police (2006–2009), EXTRA surface-to-surface missiles and AccuLAR guided rockets for coastal defence (2014–2016), AD-STAR air-search radars, five SPYDER-MR air-defence systems with 375 Python-5 and 375 Derby missiles (2016–2018), and three Heron drones from a $120–160 million deal, partly for maritime patrol, delivered in 2021.^[3]

Trade

The Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) was signed in Jerusalem on 25 July 2023 and came into force on 17 November 2024.^[2] Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade describes it as "one of the newest FTAs in Vietnam's network of trade agreements".^[4] The Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reports that "Israel" imported goods worth $377.7 million from Vietnam in 2025 (2024: $295.3 million) and exported goods worth $192.3 million to it (2024: $142.7 million).^[5]

Political interference

UN voting

Vietnam voted in favour of the September 2025 General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on a two-state solution.^[6]

Jeffrey Epstein

Documents released by the US Department of Justice in the Jeffrey Epstein files include the following.

Prince Andrew, signing as "The Duke", told Epstein on 7 October 2010 that he would be in Hanoi from 9 to 12 October and in Saigon from 12 to 13 October.^[7] On 30 November 2010 he forwarded Epstein the official visit reports for Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.^[8]
On 25 December 2010 Peter Mandelson wrote to Epstein that he had told Lazard he had been asked "to do an event in China for JPM as well as a dinner in Hanoi for Barclays and an evening in London for HSBC", and that he needed "to do as much as possible to build with JPM".^[9]

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam), Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Government of the State of Israel Treaties Database, accessed 25 October 2026.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Arms Transfers Database SIPRI, trade register for Israel as supplier, 1950–2025, data generated 20 October 2026.
↑ Ministry of Industry and Trade (Vietnam), VIFTA Unlocks Major Opportunities—Enterprises Must Actively Engage goglobal.moit.gov.vn, accessed 25 October 2026.
↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Foreign Trade Statistics Monthly, Table D1: Trade Countries – Imports and Exports CBS, December 2025 issue (library copy).
↑ United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).
↑ Email from "The Duke" to Jeffrey Epstein, 7 October 2010, EFTA00755508, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.
↑ Email from "The Duke" to Jeffrey Epstein, "Fw: South East Asia Visit Reports", 30 November 2010, EFTA00751685, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.
↑ Email from Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein, 25 December 2010, EFTA00901039, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.

[MFA2011-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Missions Abroad: Status of relations mfa.gov.il, archived 5 August 2011.

[VNMOFA-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Vietnam), Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Government of the State of Israel Treaties Database, accessed 25 October 2026.

[SIPRI-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI Arms Transfers Database SIPRI, trade register for Israel as supplier, 1950–2025, data generated 20 October 2026.

[VNMOIT-4] Ministry of Industry and Trade (Vietnam), VIFTA Unlocks Major Opportunities—Enterprises Must Actively Engage goglobal.moit.gov.vn, accessed 25 October 2026.

[CBS-5] Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel), Foreign Trade Statistics Monthly, Table D1: Trade Countries – Imports and Exports CBS, December 2025 issue (library copy).

[UNNY2025-6] United Nations General Assembly, Recorded vote on A/80/L.1/Rev.1: Endorsement of the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, 12 September 2025 (copy hosted by Al-Quds Al-Arabi).

[EpVN1-7] Email from "The Duke" to Jeffrey Epstein, 7 October 2010, EFTA00755508, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.

[EpVN2-8] Email from "The Duke" to Jeffrey Epstein, "Fw: South East Asia Visit Reports", 30 November 2010, EFTA00751685, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.

[EpVN3-9] Email from Peter Mandelson to Jeffrey Epstein, 25 December 2010, EFTA00901039, US Department of Justice, Epstein Files release, Data Set 9, copy at tommycarstensen.com/epstein, accessed 25 October 2026.

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