1-Political relations
The two countries established diplomatic relations at consular level in December 1955 and then upgraded to ambassadorial level on August 15, 1964. During  Viet Nam’s struggle against the United States, Indonesia maintained diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. In 1963 Indonesia facilitated the establishment of a representative office of Viet Nam's National Front for South Liberation and recognized the provisional revolutionary government on July 29, 1975. After the 1973 Paris Agreement on Viet Nam, Indonesia became a member of the International Committee in Viet Nam. Since 1975, bilateral relations began to develop and be promoted. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong paid an official visit to Indonesia in 1978.
The relations of the two countries entered a new chapter since 1990, with a number of visits exchanged by top leaders, i.e. Indonesian President Soeharto (November 1990), President Megawati (August 2001) and Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong (November 2001). During the official visit by Indonesian President Megawati in 2003, the two sides signed various agreements and memoranda, including the Joint Declaration on the Framework for Friendly and Comprehensive Cooperation in the 21st century, Agreement on the Demarcation on the Continental Shelf and Agreement on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders. On October 6th, 2004, Vietnamese and Indonesian Foreign Ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation of the two ministries. On the occasion of the official visit by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, leaders of the two countries agreed on promoting existing consultation mechanisms as well as establishing a new mechanism for high-level consultation. Both sides also concluded an MoU on Cooperation in Criminal Combating and Prevention and an MoU on Educational Cooperation.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai paid an official visit to Indonesia in February 2006. The two sides concluded an agreement on bilateral cooperation in tourism. In November, a meeting between officials from various agencies of the two countries was organized in Batam, Indonesia in order to discuss a solution to the issue of Vietnamese fishermen and their facilities being held in Indonesia. On the occasion of the official visit to Indonesia by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (August 8-9, 2007), the leaders of the two countries agreed on the need to further enhance bilateral relations. The two sides signed an MOU on cooperation in corruption combating and prevention and an MOU on cultural cooperation.
a. Vietnamese leaders’ visits to Indonesia:
April 1955 Prime Minister Pham Van Dong (attending Asia-Africa Summit)
February 1959 President Ho Chi Minh
August 1965 Chairman of National Assembly Truong Chinh
January 1978 Prime Minister Pham Van Dong
January 1991 Chairman of National Assembly Le Quang Dao
October 1991 Chairman of Minister Council Vo Van Kiet
July 1992 Chairman of Ministerial Council Vo Van Kiet (working visit)
August 1992 Chairman of State Council Vo Chi Cong (unofficial visit)
April 1994 President Le Duc Anh
September 1995 Chairman of National Assembly Nong Duc Manh
November 2001 President Tran Duc Luong
February 2006 Prime Minister Phan Van Khai
August 2007 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung
b. Indonesian leaders’ visits to Vietnam:
August 1957 Chairman of National Assembly Sartono
June 1959 President Sukarno
November 1990 President Suharto
May 1992 Chairman of National Assembly Kharis Suhud
December 1996 Chairman of National Assembly
November 1999 President Abdurahman Wahid (unofficial visit)
August 2001 President Megawati (working visit)
June 2003 President Megawati
May 2005 President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

2- In the fields of Economics, Science, Technology and Culture:
The two-way trade turnover reached US$ 1.18 billion in 2004 and US$ 1.17 billion in 2005, then it jumped to over US$ 2 billion in 2006 and stayed at US$ 1.3 after the 3rd quarter in 2007. Indonesia remains a traditional rice importing market of Vietnam. Main import items from Indonesia are chemicals and chemical-related products, cotton, textile, garment material, machinery and steel. In April 2005, both sides organized a business forum in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. The joint Committee on Cooperation in Economics, Science and Technology has held 4 meetings since its establishment in 1990.
3. Agreements and MOUs signed between Vietnam and Indonesia:
1.Trade Agreement signed on 8 November 1978 (replaced by revised version signed on 23 March 1995);
2.Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and Agreement on the Establishment of corresponding Joint Committee (21 November 1990);
3.Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection (25 October 1991).
4.Agreement on Maritime Transportation (25 October 1991).
5.Agreement on Civil Aviation Transportation (25 October 1991).
6.Agreement on Forestry Cooperation (5 November 1991);
7.Trade Agreement (revised and renewed version, signed on 23 March 1995);
8.Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation (22 December 1997).
9.Memorandum on the 3rd Meeting of Joint Committee; Supplementary Protocol for the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (10 November 2001);
10.Memorandum on Fishery Cooperation (8 January 2003)
11.Joint Declaration on the Framework for Friendly and Comprehensive Cooperation in the 21st century (25-27 June 2003);
12.Agreement on Demarcation on the Continental Shelf (25-27 June 2003);
13.Agreement on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Bearers (25-27 June 2003);
14.Memorandum of Understanding on Goods Exchange;
15.Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Petroleum;
16.Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation between Vietnamese Coffee and Cocoa Group and Indonesian Coffee Exporters Group (26 June 2003)
17.Memorandum on Understanding on Cooperation in Criminal Combating and Prevention (29-30 May 2005).
18.MOU on Educational Cooperation (29-30 May 2005)
19.MOU on Tourism Cooperation (22-23 February 2006)
20.MOU on Cooperation in Trading of Rice (5 April 2007)
21.MOU on Cooperation in Anti-corruption Activities; MOU on Cultural Cooperation

(August 2007).