Can Tho - Journey to Becoming a Friendly and Reliable “International Destination”

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Le Thi Thanh Giang, Chairwoman of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: HV)

She said:

Can Tho has always identified international integration as an inevitable trend and an important driving force for sustainable development. In the context of the country strengthening its comprehensive foreign relations, building Can Tho as an “international destination” is a long-term strategy to elevate the city’s position in the region and on the global stage.

- In your view, what strategic reasons motivate Can Tho to focus on building its image as an international “destination”?

Le Thi Thanh Giang: Can Tho aims to fully leverage its development potential and assert its central role in the Mekong Delta. Positioning itself as an “international destination” helps affirm its role as a regional leader. We want Can Tho to be known internationally as a dynamic, friendly, and reliable city - one that offers opportunities for cooperation across multiple sectors such as economy, culture, education, science and technology, and tourism.

Promoting people-to-people diplomacy will strengthen relations with international organizations and foreign localities, enabling Can Tho to expand its development space and attract external resources and expertise. This is also a way for the city to spread a spirit of peace, friendship, and cooperation - true to the hospitality of Tay Do.

- What specific initiatives has Can Tho implemented to promote the image of a friendly, dynamic, and globally integrated city?

Le Thi Thanh Giang: The city places strong emphasis on people-to-people diplomacy, strengthening cooperation with international organizations, associations, and foreign non-governmental organizations, as well as expanding relationships with twinned localities and traditional friends. Through cultural exchanges, seminars, development cooperation projects, and youth exchange programs, Can Tho has been building the image of an open, approachable, friendly, and trustworthy urban center in the eyes of international partners.

We are promoting the expansion and connection of international air routes at Can Tho International Airport, creating favorable conditions for foreign tourists and businesspeople to travel directly to the city. At the same time, we are developing international river cruise routes (such as Can Tho - Phnom Penh), making Can Tho an important stop on the journey to explore the Mekong River.

Additionally, the city is innovating its foreign communications and public diplomacy efforts, leveraging digital platforms and international media networks to highlight its potential and strengths. Major events such as the Culture and People-to-People Exchange Week, the International Culinary and Tourism Festival, and investment promotion conferences have become important “soft power brands.”

Most importantly, Can Tho always values people. The friendliness, kindness, hospitality, and openness of its residents are the strongest foundations for promoting the image of a likable and cooperative city.

- To achieve this, Can Tho must rely on strong coordination among many sectors, correct?

Le Thi Thanh Giang: That’s right. Tight and synchronous coordination among sectors, industries, and organizations within the political system plays a crucial role. The city’s foreign affairs are not the mission of a single agency but a collective effort involving all political bodies, with the active participation of departments, sectors, localities, businesses, and citizens, under the comprehensive leadership of the Party and the management of the State.

The Viet Nam-US Friendship Festival 2025 attracted a large number of Can Tho residents and international friends. (Photo: HV)

Diplomacy, culture, tourism, education, commerce, and communications are areas that must coordinate closely with people-to-people diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy activities, investment and trade promotion, people-to-people exchanges, and international educational cooperation are flexibly integrated into deep and effective activity chains.

Can Tho emphasizes a tripartite coordination mechanism among authorities, the business community, and people’s organizations to maximize the strengths of each party and broaden social impact. Thanks to this, the city’s image is promoted not only by government authorities but also by each resident, each partner, and each international cooperation project.

- What lessons has Can Tho learned from its journey to becoming an “international destination”?

Le Thi Thanh Giang: First is the lesson on comprehensive leadership by the Party, State management, and close coordination among all units within the political system in foreign affairs. Foreign affairs must be considered a pillar of development, strategically planned, and integrated into every aspect of life.

Foreign affairs activities are only truly effective when supported by the entire political system, the business community, and the public. When the spirit of integration reaches every institution and every individual, the city’s image naturally becomes more vivid and convincing.

Inauguration of the Ngon Thai Binh Bridge - the friendship bridge funded by the Consulate General of India. (Photo: HV)

Second is the lesson of practical experience. From this journey, we have gained many valuable insights.

Third, renewing mindsets and methods is essential. Foreign affairs must be conducted flexibly and creatively—from cultural diplomacy and digital communication to non-traditional cooperation in emerging fields such as green transition, innovation, and international youth exchange.

Lastly, the most important lesson is building long-term trust and values. Every cooperative relationship begins with sincerity, respect, and a shared goal of sustainable development. This is what helps Can Tho become known as a dynamic and trustworthy friend that assumes responsibility in the international community. Can Tho’s integration journey is proof of a sustainable approach: putting people at the center, people-to-people diplomacy as the foundation, international cooperation as the momentum, and trust and goodwill as the bond with global partners.

Representatives of Can Tho primary schools sign cooperation agreements with French primary schools. (Photo: HV)

- Looking ahead, what proposals do you have to help Can Tho continue enhancing its role as an international “destination”?

Le Thi Thanh Giang: To further promote its role as a friendly and cooperation-rich international “destination,” Can Tho should focus on three major directions.

First, continue strengthening and expanding its external relations network, especially local-level partnerships with international counterparts that share common development priorities (such as science and technology, clean energy, and digital transformation).

Second, enhance the effectiveness of communication and global promotion of Can Tho’s image, expand digital technology applications, and organize people-to-people diplomacy events to spread the message of a “welcoming, dynamic, trustworthy, and cooperative” Can Tho.

Third, invest in people, especially the younger generation. Can Tho hopes to cultivate a generation of global citizens with an integration mindset, foreign language skills, and creativity - who will become “people’s ambassadors” introducing the city to friends around the world.

With a strong foundation, solidarity, and unified determination from the entire society, we - those working in people-to-people diplomacy - hope that Can Tho will become a destination for tourists and a meeting point for cooperation, creativity, and sustainable development in the future.

- Thank you very much.

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