Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing visiting Vietnam as he seeks to normalize relations with ASEAN

Myanmar's deposed coup leader, now President Min Aung Hlaing, has arrived in Vietnam for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening political and business ties between the two countries. The visit comes as a significant shift in diplomatic relations, as Min Aung Hlaing has shed his post-coup pariah status. Upon his arrival in Hanoi, he received a red carpet welcome and is set to meet with Vietnam's President To Lam, attend a business forum, and visit digital and electronic technology industries.

Min Aung Hlaing's visit marks a notable change in the international perception of the Myanmar military junta, which was once widely shunned due to its human rights abuses. Vietnam, however, has maintained its investments and support for the junta, with Mytel, a major Myanmar telecoms operator, being jointly owned by a firm backed by Vietnam's defence ministry and a Myanmar military conglomerate.

This has raised concerns among activists who accuse Vietnam of corporate complicity with the junta, citing the revenue, technology, and surveillance support provided through Mytel.

The junta's crackdown on the Rohingya minority, which began in 2017, has drawn criticism from rights groups, who argue that the military's actions could constitute genocide and are under review by the International Court of Justice. Min Aung Hlaing's role in this crackdown has further deepened his pariah status. However, the political landscape has shifted following highly restricted elections held in early 2026, which installed Min Aung Hlaing as the civilian president.

Although many international monitors have dismissed the elections as a sham, excluding Aung San Suu Kyi's party and punishing dissent with prison time, regional neighbors such as China, Thailand, India, and Laos have warmly welcomed Min Aung Hlaing since his return as civilian leader.