Planting Friendship Trees in Can Tho
	Launch of VND 11.3 Billion Project to Support Disadvantaged Children in Can Tho

Originally established as the Hau Giang Provincial Union of Friendship Associations under Decision No. 22/UB.UBT.91 dated February 4, 1991, issued by the People’s Committee of Hau Giang Province, the organization officially adopted the name Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations in 2004. The year 2025 marked a significant turning point when the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, the Hau Giang Union of Friendship Organizations, and the Soc Trang Union of Friendship Organizations were merged into the new Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, ushering in a new phase of development with greater scale, capacity, and mission.

The 5th Congress of Delegates of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2024–2029 term elected an Executive Committee comprising 41 members, including 13 members of the Standing Committee and three members of the Inspection Committee. (Photo: TD)

Building bridges of friendship and promoting Can Tho’s image to international friends

Throughout its development journey, the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations has consistently adhered to the principle of being “proactive, flexible, innovative, and effective,” continuously renewing its thinking, content, and methods in people-to-people diplomacy while diversifying and multilateralizing partnerships.

Activities promoting peace, solidarity, friendship, and cultural exchange have become increasingly practical and closely linked with economic and trade cooperation, technology transfer, education, healthcare, and human resource development. These efforts have not only strengthened understanding, trust, and bonds between the people of Can Tho and those of other countries, but have also helped promote the image of a peaceful and friendly Vietnam while showcasing Can Tho’s unique cultural values, potential, and strengths to international friends and partners.

The Vietnam-United States Friendship Festival held in Can Tho City stands out as a hallmark of Can Tho’s cultural diplomacy in 2025. (Photo: TD)

In the fields of peace, solidarity, and friendship, the Union and its 21 member friendship associations have maintained regular exchanges, engagements, and cooperation with numerous international partners, organizations, and friends. More than 1,000 international delegations have visited and worked in Can Tho. Over 230 people-to-people diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, educational, and economic events have been organized, helping expand cooperative relations, enhance mutual understanding, and strengthen trust between the city’s residents and international friends.

In particular, commemorative activities celebrating major milestones in diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos, China, Cambodia, Cuba, the Russian Federation, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and ASEAN countries have become prominent highlights of Can Tho’s people-to-people diplomacy. Through cultural and artistic exchanges, exhibitions, seminars, and friendship meetings, the image of a peaceful, friendly, and culturally rich Vietnam has been widely promoted to international audiences.

A bright spot in mobilizing international assistance

Over its 35 years of establishment and development, the organization has consistently maintained and strengthened good relations with foreign consulates general and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It has also firmly established itself as the focal point for mobilizing non-governmental assistance for the city. The Union has effectively implemented aid mobilization efforts and coordinated the management of NGO activities in support of socio-economic development, foreign affairs objectives, and political security. At the same time, it has increasingly served as a strong coordination center, helping build social consensus and promote the strength of the great national unity bloc.

In Tan Loc Ward, Can Tho City, the Union coordinated with the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) to launch the project “For the Comprehensive Development of Disadvantaged Children in Educational Institutions,” valued at more than VND 11.3 billion. (Photo: TD)

The period from 2018 to 2025 recorded many notable achievements. Together with its member friendship associations, the Union established and maintained partnerships with more than 60 international non-governmental organizations and mobilized and implemented nearly 276 programs, projects, and non-project initiatives, with a total value exceeding USD 25.8 million, equivalent to more than VND 678 billion. These initiatives focused on climate change adaptation, environmental protection, support for disadvantaged children, healthcare, education, construction of rural bridges and solidarity houses, addressing social issues, and emergency relief.

Many projects with profound humanitarian significance have been effectively implemented, helping improve people’s livelihoods, enhance the quality of education and healthcare, and promote sustainable community development. Through these efforts, the Union’s role in connecting, coordinating, and mobilizing international resources has become increasingly evident.

Strengthening its core role in external relations

Particularly during the 2018-2025 period, under the leadership and guidance of the Municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Can Tho City, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, and with the close coordination of departments, agencies, and mass organizations, the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations and its 21 member friendship associations demonstrated solidarity, initiative, and creativity in effectively implementing people-to-people diplomacy tasks and achieving significant results in the fields of peace, solidarity, and friendship; mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid; external information work; and organizational development. These efforts contributed positively to socio-economic development while enhancing Can Tho’s position and expanding its external relations.

External information work has undergone strong innovation, creating major advances in promoting the country’s image. Notable examples include diverse and creative communication activities such as contests on the history of diplomatic relations and international painting competitions, which attracted tens of thousands of participants. Particularly, to further strengthen international outreach and connectivity, the Union established and launched an English-language information portal in 2015, marking a significant milestone in external information work. The Union regularly updates and publishes bilingual content on both its Vietnamese and English-language websites.

The Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations welcomes a delegation from the Peacework Development Fund (PDF) and volunteer students from US universities participating in the “Student Training Program 2026,” a project approved by the Can Tho People’s Committee and implemented with the Union serving as the aid recipient. (Photo: TD)

Organizational strength - A solid foundation for new advancements

Despite initial challenges arising from the restructuring and streamlining of the organizational apparatus, the Party committee and leadership of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations focused on fostering consensus among officials, civil servants, and employees, quickly stabilizing the organization and immediately resuming work with determination to ensure that the transition process would not affect the implementation of assigned tasks.

This spirit of solidarity, responsibility, and proactive adaptation has become an internal source of strength, enabling the Union to continue developing steadily in the new period. The image of a dynamic, flexible, innovative, and effective organization has been increasingly reinforced, making it a trusted bridge in people-to-people diplomacy and leaving lasting positive impressions on international friends.

Le Thi Thanh Giang, President of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, shared:

“As a socio-political organization specializing in people-to-people diplomacy, our Party committee, leadership, officials, civil servants, and employees have always upheld a spirit of solidarity, responsibility, determination, and perseverance in overcoming difficulties and striving to successfully accomplish all assigned tasks. To meet new requirements, we have adapted flexibly to changing circumstances and closely linked people-to-people diplomacy with local socio-economic development goals. We actively study, advise, and assist the Municipal Party Committee and People’s Committee in effectively implementing the Party Central Committee’s directives and resolutions on people-to-people diplomacy. We continue to consolidate, expand, and deepen our network of international friends and partners under the motto of ‘Solidarity - Friendship - Cooperation.’ We are also enhancing the effectiveness of mobilizing foreign non-governmental assistance, strengthening research and external information dissemination, and building a strong and comprehensive organization capable of meeting new demands. At the same time, we are innovating working methods and applying modern technologies to improve performance. Most importantly, we actively promote the Party’s guidelines, the State’s policies and laws, and the city’s development achievements to the international community so that we can become a strong, professional, and effective bridge for people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to the successful realization of the city’s socio-economic development goals.”

Thanks to these persistent efforts, the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations has been honored with numerous prestigious awards from authorities at all levels. Since 2018 alone, it has received a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister; for seven consecutive years, it has been awarded the Emulation Flag for Leading Unit by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; and it has repeatedly received Emulation Flags and Certificates of Merit from the Can Tho People’s Committee for outstanding achievements in emulation movements. Notably, in 2025, the organization was honored with the Emulation Flag for “Leading Unit in the Field of Peace - Cooperation - Friendship” by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

The Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations presents the Emulation Flag for “Leading Unit in the Field of Peace - Cooperation - Friendship in 2025” to the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: TD)

Advancing confidently into a new development phase

As the center of the Mekong Delta region, Can Tho City enjoys many advantages in external relations, fostering friendly ties with countries around the world and promoting investment cooperation across various sectors.

Today, Can Tho is a centrally governed Class-I city, advancing strongly toward comprehensive development and integration. Politburo Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated August 5, 2020, on “Building and Developing Can Tho City to 2030, with a Vision to 2045,” sets the goal that by 2030, Can Tho will become an ecological, civilized, and modern city imbued with the distinctive riverine culture of the Mekong Delta; a regional center for trade and services, tourism, logistics, processing industries, high-tech agriculture, education and training, specialized healthcare, science and technology, culture, and sports; the core urban center of the Mekong Delta; a city where people enjoy a high quality of material and spiritual life; where Party organizations and the political system remain clean and strong; and where national defense and security are firmly safeguarded.

“Building on the city’s advantages and looking toward the 1st Congress of Delegates of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term, our collective remains committed to innovation and to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of our activities. We will continue to play our core role together with member friendship associations, closely coordinating with municipal departments, agencies, and organizations to strengthen and improve our operations. We will further promote our role as a bridge of friendship between the people of Can Tho and people around the world, expand international cooperation, and effectively mobilize resources for local development. We will thoroughly implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Can Tho Municipal Party Organization for the 2025-2030 term; maintain a peaceful and stable environment; mobilize resources for socio-economic development; and contribute effectively to the city’s overall foreign affairs policy in line with the theme ‘Solidarity - Innovation - Cooperation - Integration for the Sustainable Development of Can Tho City’ set for the 2026-2031 term. Through these efforts, we aim to help build an increasingly civilized, modern, compassionate, and globally integrated Can Tho,” Le Thi Thanh Giang added.

It can be seen that thirty-five years, though not a long period in the history of an organization, are sufficient to affirm the resilience, prestige, and significant contributions of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations to the city’s overall development.

This important foundation serves as the basis for the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations to move forward with greater confidence in the 2026-2031 term, carrying with it aspirations for development, a spirit of innovation, and traditions of solidarity, initiative, creativity, and responsibility. In doing so, the organization will continue writing proud new chapters in people-to-people diplomacy, living up to its role as a bridge of friendship, cooperation, and development for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future, helping Can Tho advance confidently into a new era - the era of Vietnam’s national rise.

Planting Friendship Trees in Can Tho Nam Can Tho University, the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, in coordination with the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and ...

Launch of VND 11.3 Billion Project to Support Disadvantaged Children in Can Tho The Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, in coordination with the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) and relevant departments, sectors, and local authorities, ...