Vietnam-Thailand people-to-people diplomacy: Deepening bilateral relations

Vietnam and Thailand officially established diplomatic relations on August 6, 1976. Over the past 50 years, bilateral relations have continuously expanded and been elevated, with political trust increasingly strengthened and shared interests in cooperation becoming more closely intertwined.

The foundation of this friendship was laid by the vision and thought of President Ho Chi Minh during his activities in Thailand in 1928-1929 and 1930. He sowed the seeds of revolution, established mutual-aid organizations, encouraged the Vietnamese community to respect the law, integrate into Thai society, and join hands in building a prosperous and increasingly developed Thailand.

Building on this foundation, bilateral relations have made important strides, including the establishment of a Strategic Partnership in 2013, an Enhanced Strategic Partnership in 2019, and the elevation of ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2025. Economic cooperation has also grown strongly. Thailand remains Vietnam's largest trading partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade turnover targeting USD 25 billion, while also ranking among the nine countries and territories with the largest foreign direct investment in Vietnam. The “Three Connections” cooperation mechanism: connecting supply chains; connecting businesses and localities; and connecting sustainable development strategies has opened up additional space for cooperation between the two countries in digital transformation, green transition and sustainable development.

The 14th Joint Conference between the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association was held in Hai Phong in December 2025. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

Throughout this process, people-to-people diplomacy, with the two countries' friendship associations at its core, has contributed to strengthening ties between the peoples of Vietnam and Thailand and further deepening bilateral relations. The Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association was established in 1996. Over 30 years of operation and five national congresses, under the guidance of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and in coordination with the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association, the Association has continuously renewed its content and methods of operation, affirming its role as a specialized bridge and a core force in people-to-people diplomacy, specifically:

First, the two associations have maintained regular exchanges and interactions, most notably through the mechanism of the annual Joint Conference between the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association, held alternately in the two countries. The 14th Joint Conference took place in Hai Phong in December 2025, while the 15th Joint Conference is scheduled to be held in Thailand in the fourth quarter of 2026. This is a special mechanism and, to date, the only one of its kind among friendship associations in Vietnam. It enables the two sides to promptly translate commitments made by senior leaders into practical actions at the grassroots level.

The two associations have also placed emphasis on promoting cooperation at the local level, particularly between several northeastern Thai provinces, such as Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon, and Vietnamese provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Hue and Da Nang. These connections have gained additional depth through sites preserving the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh's activities in Thailand. The President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Sites in Nachok Village (Nakhon Phanom), Nong Bua/Nong On (Udon Thani) and Dong Village (Phichit) have become “red addresses” and historical-cultural symbols of the friendship between the two peoples. Buddhist exchanges have also been maintained, including visits and working sessions by Thai delegations at Tam Bao Pagoda, as well as Buddhist exchange activities between the two countries.

A notable shift in the Association's activities has been the transition from purely friendship exchanges to closer engagement with economic, trade and investment promotion. The two associations have coordinated in organizing a number of Vietnam-Thailand business networking activities, including the Vietnam-Thailand Business Forum in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023, under the theme “1+1 = No Borders.” These activities have created additional opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and young businesses from the two countries to explore markets, address legal barriers, connect agricultural products and complementary areas of strength, and cooperate for mutual development.

Thailand-Vietnam Business Forum 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Education, culture, language and younger generations have also been prioritized by the two associations. Vietnamese-language programs for Thai pupils and students, as well as Thai-language programs for Vietnamese pupils and students, have been promoted at several educational institutions. Notably, cooperation has been implemented at the University of Danang, while the partner association has provided study scholarships at Bamboo School to several Vietnamese students facing difficult circumstances. Student exchanges between educational institutions of the two countries have also been promoted, including programs between FPT University and King Mongkut's University, Khon Kaen University and Chulalongkorn University. Competitions on Vietnamese-Thai culture organized by the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association in coordination with the Embassy have also attracted the participation of many young people.

The two associations have also coordinated in organizing cultural, sports and social activities, such as a friendly match between the Vietnam and Thailand national U17 women's football teams at the People's Police Academy of Vietnam in April 2025; the donation of a GE Healthcare Versana Balance ultrasound machine to Nam Dan District Medical Center in Nghe An Province; and the presentation of 300 pairs of eyeglasses and 300 gift packages to association members and elderly people in Dong Nai.

Four priority tasks

The regional and global landscape in the coming period is expected to continue undergoing rapid, complex and unpredictable changes, alongside digital transformation, the green transition and new requirements for sustainable development. For Vietnam-Thailand people-to-people relations, one issue of concern is the risk of a “declining understanding gap” among younger generations as historical memories gradually fade if new approaches are not adopted. This creates an urgent need to modernize the content and forms of people-to-people diplomacy to adapt to the digital era.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association has developed a coordinated program of activities from the central level to local friendship associations, focusing on cultural exchange activities with the direct participation of local people and younger generations. The Association plans to coordinate in organizing the Vietnam-Thailand Culture, Tourism and Cuisine Week in Hue City; coordinate with Nghe An Province to organize a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic relations in early August 2026; organize a tree-planting program in Phu Tho Province; and conduct a number of other cultural and sports exchange activities. Through these activities, the Association seeks to create more opportunities for people from both countries to participate directly and learn about the culture, people and friendship between Vietnam and Thailand.

Nguyen Van Thanh (far left), President of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association, and Sanan Angubolkul (far right), President of the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association, were honored by the Embassy of Thailand in Vietnam in recognition of their contributions to promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, on August 6, 2026, in Hanoi. (Photo: Thanh Thao)

In the coming period, the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association has identified several priority tasks:

First, renew thinking and advance digital transformation in people-to-people diplomacy. Make full use of digital media platforms to strengthen cooperation and connectivity; disseminate positive information about bilateral relations; and promote information about the historical heritage associated with President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand among younger generations, particularly Generation Z and Generation Alpha. During discussions at the 15th Joint Conference, to be held in Thailand, the two associations will focus on cooperation orientations for 2027 and the following years, including the role and impact of digital technology today on Vietnam-Thailand people-to-people diplomacy.

Second, strengthen economic connectivity and effectively implement the “Three Connections” strategy. Enhance coordination in organizing networking forums for small and medium-sized enterprises; support start-ups and high-tech enterprises from the two countries in cooperation and development; and promote green supply chains between Vietnam and Thailand.

Third, strengthen exchanges among younger generations and in-depth educational cooperation. Explore the establishment of a Vietnam-Thailand alumni network and promote educational exchanges among reputable educational institutions in Vietnam and Thailand to jointly train high-quality human resources...

Fourth, maximize the “bridging” role of the Vietnamese community in Thailand and the Thai community in Vietnam, both in strengthening solidarity between the two peoples and contributing to socio-economic development toward the goal of a prosperous, civilized and happy future for each country.

The 30-year journey of building and developing the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association has been closely linked to the 50-year history of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Building on the foundation of friendship nurtured by generations, the Association will continue to renew its content and methods of operation, expand practical connections, and contribute to further deepening the Vietnam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Rooted in History, Culture and People-to-People Ties Vietnam and Thailand share a close relationship rooted in history and culture. Long before the two countries officially established diplomatic relations, President Ho Chi Minh played an important role in fostering the bond between their peoples. Although he spent only a relatively short period in Thailand, he left behind a profound legacy of friendship.

Traditional Attire Tells Story of 50 Years of Vietnam-Thailand Relations On August 6, the exhibition “Woven Ties: 50 Years of Vietnam-Thailand Diplomatic Relations” opened in Hanoi, showcasing the traditional attire of Vietnam and Thailand while highlighting the cultural affinities between the two countries. The event also underscored the role of people-to-people exchanges throughout the half-century of bilateral relations.