Focus on Training Officials to Boost Hanoi People-to-people Diplomacy
	People-to-people Diplomacy Must Directly Nurture Viet Nam-Lao Strategic Connectivity

- Could you provide an overview of the role and contributions of people-to-people diplomacy within Vietnam’s overall foreign affairs landscape in 2025?

In 2025, people-to-people diplomacy continued to serve as an important pillar of Vietnam’s external relations, providing practical support for Party diplomacy and State diplomacy, and contributing to the creation of a peaceful, stable, and favorable international environment for national development. Through an extensive network of partners and international friends, exchange, cooperation, and outreach activities conducted by people’s organizations have increasingly deepened in substance, helping to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the Vietnamese people and peoples of other countries. People-to-people diplomacy has effectively promoted “soft power,” contributing to the dissemination of the image of a peaceful, responsible, and actively integrated Vietnam within the country’s overall foreign affairs landscape.

People-to-people diplomacy has continued to build a favorable and positive social foundation for Vietnam’s relations with other countries; to consolidate and deepen friendly relations with peoples of other nations, especially neighboring countries and key partners; and to closely align with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy in effectively serving common objectives. It has also effectively enhanced its role as a channel for mobilizing and attracting international resources for development. Notably, in the second half of the year, in the face of severe impacts from natural disasters, many international individuals and partner organizations of Vietnam’s people’s organizations, as well as foreign non-governmental organizations operating in Vietnam, actively participated in supporting post-disaster recovery efforts in many localities across the country.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van. (Photo: An Dang)

- In your view, amid increasing regional and global volatility, how has people-to-people diplomacy adapted and transformed?

The most prominent highlight of people-to-people diplomacy over the past year has been a strong shift from conventional friendship exchanges toward activities with high political significance, such as the program “Red journey for youth research and study,” and the campaign to mobilize support for the Cuban people titled “65 years of Vietnam-Cuba solidarity.” These initiatives received broad attention and enthusiastic participation from various segments of society (with total donations reaching VND 656.7 billion, ten times higher than the original target). People-to-people diplomacy has also engaged more proactively and substantively in the country’s overall development requirements and tasks, as well as contributed directly to safeguarding national and ethnic interests within multilateral mechanisms and forums, particularly in the areas of peace, sustainable development, climate change response, and humanitarian cooperation.

Against a backdrop of complex regional and global developments and intensified strategic competition, people-to-people diplomacy has proactively adapted by renewing its thinking and modes of operation; strengthening coordination with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy; enhancing forecasting capacity, policy responsiveness, and the effective dissemination of messages about a peaceful, reliable, and responsible Vietnam. People-to-people diplomacy is no longer merely a supportive activity, but a strategic pillar of a comprehensive and modern diplomatic framework, playing a role in building social foundations, consolidating trust, and expanding the country’s space for cooperation.

- What have been the outcomes of cooperation between Vietnam and foreign non-governmental organizations in areas such as poverty reduction, education, healthcare, and climate change over the past year?

Cooperation with foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is an important component of people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to the consolidation of friendly relations, the promotion of sustainable development, the dissemination of humanitarian values, and the strengthening of connections between Vietnam and international partners. At present, nearly 400 foreign NGOs are operating regularly in Vietnam. During the 2020-2024 period, the total value of aid provided to Vietnam reached nearly USD 1.14 billion. Projects have been implemented across 34 provinces and cities, focusing on essential areas such as healthcare, socio-economic development, addressing social issues, education and training, natural resources and the environment, organizational capacity building, and legal assistance.

These highly meaningful figures demonstrate the important role of foreign NGOs in contributing knowledge, technology, and governance initiatives to Vietnam, and reflect the sense of responsibility, goodwill, and appreciation that the international community holds for the country and the Vietnamese people. The contributions of foreign NGOs are not limited to the resources they provide; more importantly, they bring international knowledge and experience, creativity, humanitarian values, and innovative approaches to community development - elements that not all channels of cooperation are able to offer.

On December 4, 2025, in Hanoi, the "Fifth International Conference on Cooperation between Vietnam and Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations: Partners for Prosperity and Sustainable Development" was held. The conference comprehensively reviewed the outcomes of cooperation between Vietnam and foreign NGOs during the 2019-2025 period; shared lessons learned, as well as Vietnam’s development needs and priorities; and discussed orientations for cooperation in the new phase to ensure effectiveness, sustainability, and alignment with a rapidly changing global context. Leaders of the Government, ministries, sectors, localities, and people’s organizations all acknowledged and highly appreciated the meaningful and practical contributions of foreign NGO partners, viewing cooperation between Vietnam and foreign NGOs not merely as complementary, but as an indispensable component of the national development strategy.

The Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs and the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations co-hosted the Fifth International Conference on Cooperation between Vietnam and Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations: Partners for Prosperity and Sustainable Development on December 4, 2025, in Hanoi. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

- How important is coordination among state agencies, socio-political organizations, and other actors in implementing people-to-people diplomacy?

Close coordination among state agencies, socio-political organizations, and other people’s organizations is of pivotal importance and is decisive to the effectiveness of implementing people-to-people diplomacy. Each actor has its own role and strengths; however, these strengths can only be fully realized when they are integrated into a unified whole, thereby creating the combined strength of Vietnam’s comprehensive diplomacy. In this framework, state agencies play a strategic guiding role, establish the legal framework, and provide overall coordination; socio-political organizations serve as the core forces directly implementing activities, connecting partners, and maintaining networks of international friends; while the people, intellectuals, businesses, and overseas Vietnamese communities constitute vital social resources that help disseminate Vietnam’s image and voice to the world. Smooth and synchronized coordination has enabled people-to-people diplomacy to operate effectively, flexibly adapt to international fluctuations, and serve the practical goals of national development and homeland protection.

- As Vietnam looks toward the 14th National Party Congress and an era of national rise, what should be done to further promote the strength of people-to-people diplomacy in the time ahead?

In the context of moving toward the 14th National Party Congress and an era of national rise, Vietnam needs to continue elevating people-to-people diplomacy in terms of thinking, substance, and modes of implementation, so as to fully promote its “pioneering” role and its “key” and “regular” mission within foreign affairs and international integration.

First and foremost, it is essential to further deepen awareness of the role of people-to-people diplomacy within a comprehensive and modern diplomatic framework, and to closely align people-to-people diplomatic activities with strategic priorities for development, integration, and national defense. At the same time, coordination mechanisms among agencies and organizations should be strengthened, and the capacity of personnel engaged in people-to-people diplomacy should be enhanced in a lean, efficient, strong, professional, and modern manner. In addition, greater emphasis should be placed on mobilizing the role of intellectuals, businesses, youth, and overseas Vietnamese; proactively participating in and contributing responsible voices to regional and international forums; and thereby effectively promoting the image of a peaceful, dynamic, and trustworthy Vietnam.

- In your capacity as Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs, do you have a message for international partners who are currently cooperating with Vietnam or will do so in the future?

Vietnam always acknowledges and expresses its sincere appreciation for the valuable support extended by international friends, partners, and foreign organizations, including foreign NGOs, to the country’s development and the well-being of the Vietnamese people over the years. Above all, we deeply cherish the affection, close bonds, and special goodwill that you have shown toward Vietnam.

As Vietnam enters a new stage of development, alongside traditional areas of cooperation that have proven highly effective and have been implemented by foreign NGOs for many years, Vietnam encourages the expansion of cooperation into new areas aligned with the country’s priorities and development needs. These include green economy development, circular economy, climate change adaptation, community digital transformation, support for sustainable agriculture, development of social security systems, capacity building for localities, and the promotion of innovation. Together with the foreign non-governmental community, Vietnam also seeks the companionship of development cooperation agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, and domestic and foreign enterprises to create multi-stakeholder cooperation models that meet new requirements and expand access to resources, technology, and governance experience.

I hope that foreign NGOs will continue to accompany Vietnam in priority areas, while further sharing experience, knowledge, and technology; connecting Vietnam with networks of international experts; and helping the country engage more deeply in global initiatives. Cooperation is not merely about sharing resources, but also about sharing vision, responsibility, and trust in a future where people’s lives can be better. The Government of Vietnam is committed to listening, accompanying, and always being ready to create the most favorable conditions for foreign non-governmental organizations to realize their value in Vietnam.

- Thank you very much!

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