Viet Nam Times Magazine is pleased to present the article “People-to-People Diplomacy to Strengthen the Hegemony of Internationalism: The Practical Example of the Solidarity Between Viet Nam and Cuba” by Käch Marius André and Biermann, Felix Paul Biermann of the Switzerland-Viet Nam Friendship Association. The article was submitted to the Second Political Commentary Writing Contest on Protecting the Party’s Ideological Foundation in 2026, organized by the Party Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and Central Mass Organizations, and received a Consolation Prize.

I met Dr. Keijo Varis when he visited Hanoi to attend activities marking the 80th anniversary of Viet Nam’s National Day. After that visit, we stayed in touch through emails he sent from Turku, Finland. In those letters, the 65-year-old professor rarely spoke about his more than a decade of teaching or the milestones in his career. He wrote more about his Vietnamese students - people who had entered his classroom shy and reserved, then left a lasting impression through their sincerity, diligence, and relationships that endured long after graduation.

Good Neighbors International (GNI) has organized a series of Environmental Festivals under the theme “Journey Towards Green Living” at three primary and lower secondary schools: Tan Bac, Bang Lang and Yen Thanh in Tuyen Quang Province, attracting more than 900 students.

The fifth National Congress of the Viet Nam-Belarus Friendship Association, held in Ha Noi on October 24 for the 2026-2031 term, elected a new Executive Committee. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was elected President of the Association for the 2026-2031 term. The Congress also set out directions for renewing and improving the quality of exchanges and connections between the peoples of the two countries.