As signed September 23, 2026
The Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, hereinafter referred to as the “Participants”,
RECALLING the upgrading of the relations between Canada and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (Viet Nam) to a Comprehensive Partnership in 2017;
HIGHLIGHTING the importance of the Canada-Viet Nam relationship in the context of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, the importance of this relationship for bilateral cooperation and trade diversification;
EMPHASIZING the desire to forge a broader and deeper bilateral energy relationship between the Participants for mutually beneficial outcomes and enhanced regional resilience (the Indo-Pacific region) against energy security and climate change challenges;
AFFIRMING the Participants' desire to achieve this by enhanced collaboration related to energy security, energy efficiency, and the clean energy transition;
RECOGNIZING the important role that conventional fuels such as natural gas will play in strengthening energy security as well as developing a low-carbon future by fueling the energy transition;
INTENDING to respect the work of the Participants to collaborate on energy cooperation, and create new economic opportunities through self-defined pathways, policies, and reforms while mitigating environmental impacts, supporting impacted people, and building a clean energy future;
HAVE REACHED the following understanding:
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") is to:
- Strengthen bilateral dialogue and collaboration to support energy cooperation, the clean energy transition, and the development of secure, reliable and sustainable energy systems;
- Promote informational exchanges on energy cooperation and transition best practices in accordance with the domestic laws of Canada and Viet Nam;
- Enhance two-way partnerships with both governmental and private sector entities to enhance and deepen energy partnerships and trade between the Participants;
- Build a mutually beneficial and comprehensive energy partnership through cooperative activities to be jointly decided upon by the Participants.
2. AREAS OF COOPERATION
The Participants understand that cooperation under this MOU may include the following areas (Areas of Cooperation):
- energy cooperation, and the clean energy transition;
- encourage private sector collaboration of both countries on energy projects, including identifying promising joint investment and financing opportunities across the energy value chain;
- energy sources including but not limited to fuels such as LNG, LPG, crude oil, and hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia;
- renewables and hydropower;
- any other Areas of Cooperation within their functions and mandates the Participants may jointly decide upon.
- The Participants may, as appropriate, establish dialogue mechanisms, including meetings or working-level exchanges, to facilitate cooperation and, where mutually decided, identify priority areas of cooperation on a non-binding basis.
3. COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES
The Participants understand that cooperative activities in the Areas of Cooperation set out in Paragraph 2 of this MOU may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Regular dialogue/exchange between officials;
- Exchange of information, best practices, lessons learned and appropriate materials;
- Organization of seminars, symposia, video conferences, webinars, and meetings;
- Engagement and outreach to relevant stakeholders, which may include governmental bodies at national or sub-national levels, private sector entities, financial institutions, research and academic organizations, and other relevant partners (as jointly decided upon by the Participants);
- Exchange visits of government officials;
- Any other forms of Cooperation, as jointly decided upon by the Participants.
4. APPLICATION
In order to facilitate the implementation of this MOU, the Participants will:
- share information where relevant and appropriate upon request;
- where jointly decided by the Participants, convene individual meetings, discussion fora, or other cooperation mechanisms, related to the Areas of Cooperation set out in paragraph 3;
- invite companies, financial organizations and other relevant groups referred to in Paragraph 3 (as jointly decided by the Participants) to contribute to the Areas of Cooperation. The Participants will require invited groups to comply with intellectual property and confidentiality regulations under the respective national laws of each Participant, international law and other written agreements;
- carry out any other actions jointly determined in advance between the Participants in writing;
- All activities under this MOU will be carried out on a voluntary basis and subject to the Participants’ respective priorities, policies, and available resources.
5. APPLICATION OF LAW AND PROVISION OF SUPPORT
- The Participants understand that all cooperative activities conducted under this MOU will be carried out in accordance with the domestic laws of Canada and Viet Nam, including regulations on the protection of state secrets as well as international agreements to which each country is a party, within the scope of the Participants' available resources, and in compliance with each Participant’s national laws and regulations relating to confidentiality and the protection of sensitive or classified information.
- The Participants acknowledge that any reference to investment in this MOU is non-binding and that such investment may be subsequently established specifically in writing in accordance with the relevant decision-making processes of the respective Participants.
- Unless otherwise jointly decided by the Participants in writing, each Participant intends to pay the costs it incurs in developing their cooperative activities.
- This MOU does not oblige either Participant to any financial expenditure.
6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
- If any intellectual property matters arise from the application of this MOU, the Participants will address them in separate appropriate instruments. Such instruments could include non-disclosure agreements, license agreements, collaborative research agreements, or other contracts in order to safeguard the ownership rights and govern usage of intellectual property.
- The Participants understand that any intellectual property rights used or developed in cooperative activities under this MOU will respect each Participant's respective domestic laws.
- Where cooperative activities involve third parties, the Participants may address intellectual property matters in separate written arrangements, consistent with applicable laws, including the possible use by third-parties of mechanisms for dispute resolution, in separate written arrangements, in accordance with their respective applicable domestic laws.
7. DIFFERENCES IN INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION
The Participants will resolve any difference in the interpretation and the application of this MOU through consultations.
8. STATUS
This MOU is not legally binding and does not create, amend, or terminate the rights or obligations of Canada and Viet Nam under international law.
9. FINAL DISPOSITIONS
- This MOU will come into effect upon the last signature by the Participants and will remain valid for a period of five (05) years.
- the Participants may renew this MoU every five (05) years with their mutual written consent.
- The Participants may amend this MOU upon their mutual written consent.
- If a Participant wishes to terminate this MOU, it will notify the other Participant in writing. This MOU will terminate three (03) months after the date of receipt of the notice of termination of this MOU.
- The Participants understand that the termination of this MOU will not affect the application and duration of any forms of cooperation carried out under it until their completion, unless the Participants jointly decide otherwise.