Vietnam and Malaysia officially established Diplomatic relations on 30 March, 1973. After the South of Vietnam was liberated (1975), Malaysia was the first member of ASEAN that recognized the Republic Revolution Provisional Government of the South of Vietnam. In 1976, the two countries opened Embassies in each capital.

Since 1991, after the Paris Agreement on Cambodia, Vietnam - Malaysia relations have entered a new development period, expanding to many areas in both bilateral and ASEAN framewor​ks.

In 1994, the ruling parties of the two countries established relations. In February 1994, the Vietnam - Malaysia and Malaysia - Vietnam Friendship Associations were set up in each country. In September 1995, the two countries agreed to establish the Joint Commission for Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation (JCM).  The two countries have exchanged many high level delegations. 

General Secretary Do Muoi (March 1994); President Tran Duc Luong (March 1998) paid an official visit and attended NAM Summit Meeting (February 2003); Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet (1992, 1994 and May 1994); Prime Minister Phan Van Khai attended APEC Summit Meeting (November 1998) and paid an official visit (April 2004); Chairman of National Assembly Nong Duc Manh (September 1996); Chairman of National Assembly Nguyen Van An (December 2002); Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia’s Independence (August 2007).

His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Rahman (December 1995); Prime Minister Mahathir (April 1992, March 1996) paid an official visit and attended 6th ASEAN  Summit Meeting (December 1998),  Senate President (November 1991); UMNO Secretary General (July 1995) paid an official visit and attended the 8th Vietnamese Communist Party Congress (July 1996); His Majesty Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail (December 2002);  Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (January 2004) attended ASEM5 Summit Meeting (October 2004) and APEC Summit Meeting (November 2006).

Economic relations have been developed and expanded in many areas. Investment of Malaysia in Vietnam increased from US$ 50 million in 1990 to US$ 1.6 billion in 2006. Malaysia ranks second among ASEAN countries and 9th in the 73 countries investing in Vietnam. In terms of trade, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Malaysia increased averagely 20% per year, from US$ 160 million (1992) to US$ 2.7 billion (2006).  

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