Copenhagen will welcome a rare royal occasion later this month, as the Danish Royal Court has announced a Vietnam state visit to Denmark from 19 to 21 October 2026. At the invitation of King Frederik X and Queen Mary, Tô Lâm — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam — will travel to Denmark accompanied by his wife, Ngô Phương Ly.
The visit was announced by the Royal Court last week and will be the centrepiece of Denmark–Vietnam relations this year, as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
FAKTA
- Who is visiting: Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with his wife Ngô Phương Ly
- When: 19–21 October 2026
- Gala dinner: Monday 19 October at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, hosted by King Frederik X and Queen Mary
- Announced by: the Danish Royal Court in early October 2026
- Occasion: the 55th anniversary of Denmark–Vietnam diplomatic relations
- History: Denmark was one of the first Western countries to recognise North Vietnam, in 1971
What the Vietnam State Visit Means for Denmark
The three-day programme will highlight areas of common interest such as green solutions, health, food and further regional and international cooperation, and will reaffirm the strong commercial ties between the two countries. Around 150 Danish companies are currently active in Vietnam, and trade and green technology are expected to feature prominently during the visit.
People-to-people ties are a theme too: more than 18,200 Danish citizens with Vietnamese roots live in Denmark, making the Vietnamese community one of the country’s well-established immigrant groups.
A Personal Royal Link to Vietnam
The Danish Royal Family has a special connection to Vietnam. The late Prince Henrik, father of King Frederik X, grew up partly in Hanoi, giving the upcoming palace banquet a personal resonance for the King.
The Royal Couple also know the country first-hand: in 2022, Frederik and Mary — then the Crown Prince Couple — made their last official visit to Vietnam, a trip that helped deepen cooperation on green growth and energy transition between the two countries.
Gala Dinner at Christiansborg Palace
The highlight of the visit will be the gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace on Monday 19 October, held in honour of the Vietnamese presidential couple and their official delegation. Tiaras will return to Copenhagen for the evening — one of the grandest royal occasions in the Danish capital this year.
Conclusion
The Vietnam state visit underlines how far Denmark–Vietnam relations have come in 55 years — from early diplomatic recognition in 1971 to a modern partnership built on green technology, trade and close human ties. For Copenhagen, 19 October promises an evening of royal splendour at Christiansborg Palace.
For more news from the Danish capital, visit Watan News in English.
