Friendship
From Wartime Solidarity to Lasting Friendship
On October 30 in Hanoi, the Embassy of Cuba in Viet Nam held a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the first visit to Viet Nam by a high-level Cuban delegation. The visit began on October 29, 1966, during the height of the war, and became a special milestone in the solidarity between Viet Nam and Cuba.
Friendship
Promoting Role of People-to-People Diplomacy in Viet Nam-Spain Relations
Recently in Hanoi, marking the occasion of Spain’s National Day (October 12), the Hanoi Viet Nam-Spain Friendship Association held a friendship gathering and launched two new chapters, contributing to the expansion of people-to-people diplomacy networks and the promotion of cooperation between the two countries.
Friendship
Viet Nam-Sweden: A Friendship That Endures
Decades later, those involved in Viet Nam–Sweden healthcare cooperation still reunite, while the children of some Swedish experts have even spent their holidays working in Quang Ninh. Elisabeth Dahlin and Anders Öhrström share these stories as they reflect on 50 years of healthcare cooperation between the two countries.
Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Sets New Priorities for People-to-People Diplomacy
On October 29 in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations held a conference to disseminate and implement the Resolution of its 7th National Congress for the 2026-2031 term.
Expanding Opportunities for Viet Nam-Saudi Arabia Cooperation
Strengthening information exchange, exploring the establishment of a friendship association, fostering educational and academic ties, and promoting business cooperation were among the proposals discussed by President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Viet Nam Thamer Mohammed A. Algosaibi, during a meeting in Hanoi on October 28. The discussions aimed to tap into the potential for cooperation and strengthen ties between the peoples of the two countries.
Italian Ambassador Highlights Role of Youth in Strengthening Viet Nam-Italy Ties
During his visit and exchange with students at Nguyen Sieu Secondary and High School in Hanoi, as part of an international student exchange program with Galileo Galilei High School in Siena, Italy, Italian Ambassador to Viet Nam Marco Della Seta emphasized the fundamental role of education and people-to-people diplomacy in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Viet Nam-Brazil: Turning Cooperation Commitments into Reality
The implementation of the Strategic Partnership Action Plan for 2025-2030 has set out specific tasks for Viet Nam and Brazil, particularly in economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was re-elected on October 25, 2026, as the two countries continue to implement their existing agreements.
International Friendship Volleyball Exchange Held in Khanh Hoa
Recently, nearly 100 students from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and several other countries, currently studying in Khanh Hoa, participated in a friendly volleyball exchange.
NA President receives Chairman of Korea–Vietnam Friendship Association
The NA President expressed his deep appreciation for the sincere sentiments and support extended to Vietnam by the Republic of Korea’s organisations, associations, businesses and friends, underscoring the important role of people-to-people diplomacy in strengthening the social foundations of bilateral ties, deepening mutual understanding between the two countries’ people and translating the substance of the Vietnam–RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into concrete outcomes.
People-to-People Diplomacy to Strengthen the Hegemony of Internationalism: The Practical Example of the Solidarity Between Viet Nam and Cuba
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.
Students Who Brought Me to Viet Nam
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.
More Than 900 Students in Tuyen Quang Learn About Green Living
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.
Deputy Minister Ho An Phong Elected President of Viet Nam-Belarus Friendship Association for 2026-2031
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.
First Congress of the Dong Thap Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 Term
On October 20, the Dong Thap Union of Friendship Organizations held its first Congress for the 2026-2031 term. Nguyen Quang Minh was re-elected as President of the Union for the new term.
Promoting People-to-People Diplomacy to Build a Solid Foundation Rooted in “the People’s Hearts”
Viet Nam Times Magazine is pleased to introduce the article “Ho Chi Minh thought - A spiritual legacy of national liberation and enhancing Viet Nam’s international standing” by Kusum Jain, President of the India-Viet Nam Solidarity Committee (IVSC). The article was submitted to the Second Political Essay Contest on Protecting the Party’s Ideological Foundation in 2026, organised by the Party Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and Central Mass Organisations, and received a Consolation Prize.
American Friends Help Ease the Pain of Agent Orange
Providing scholarships, wheelchairs and livelihood assistance to families with victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, many Americans have spent decades helping the Vietnamese people. Their efforts have helped improve the lives of those affected and heal the wounds of war.
65 Years of the Agent Orange Disaster: Dialogue to Spur Action
Nearly two decades after the establishment of the Viet Nam-US Track II Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/dioxin, those who helped advance the initiative continue to seek solutions to support victims. At a seminar entitled “65 years of the Agent Orange disaster in Viet Nam,” held in Hanoi on October 21, participants emphasized the need to sustain long-term cooperation, prioritize families most severely affected by the consequences of Agent Orange, and accelerate dioxin remediation efforts.
Aris Alip: The Filipino Friend Who Helped Build the TYM Fund
More than three decades ago, Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip, known as Aris Alip, a Filipino microfinance expert, helped lay the foundations for the Tinh Thuong Microfinance Institution (TYM), expanding poor Vietnamese women's access to capital and opportunities to develop sustainable livelihoods. Through their initial cooperation, he built lasting relationships with Vietnamese organizations and friends.
Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Wins Seven Awards in Party Ideological Foundation Protection Contest
Four of the seven winning entries were submitted by authors from Russia, Brazil, Switzerland and India. The Party Committee of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations was awarded a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Collective Performance.
Spreading Responsibility for Safeguarding Party’s Ideological Foundation from Viet Nam to International Community
On October 19 in Hanoi, the Party Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and Central Mass Organizations held a closing ceremony and award presentation for the second Political Essay Contest on Safeguarding the Party’s Ideological Foundation, 2026. The contest attracted 10,220 entries, a 16-fold increase from the previous year, with broad participation from officials, Party members, Youth Union members, members of mass organizations, Vietnamese living abroad and international friends.
DAFO Launches Activities to Promote Responsible Business Practices
On October 15, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organizations (DAFO), in collaboration with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) for the Central and Central Highlands regions and Catalyste+ (Canada), convened the first consultation on the development and refinement of a Responsible Business Practices (RBP) Index. The Index is intended for adoption within the city’s business community, serving as a framework to promote ethical standards and sustainable practices among enterprises.
Seoul (Republic of Korea) Expands Employment Support for Vietnamese International Students
Universities and Seoul Metropolitan Government-affiliated support agencies and organizations are ramping up various programs to help international students, including those from Viet Nam, enhance their academic capabilities, clarify their career paths, and prepare for post-graduation employment.
NA President Meets with Chinese Friendship Figures in Beijing
The Vietnamese NA leader thanked the CPAFFC, the China-Vietnam Friendship Association and Chinese friendship figures for their deep affection for Vietnam and their sustained contributions to Vietnam-China relations over the years.
