Friendship
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.
Friendship
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.
Friendship
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.
A Misfortune Turned into Happiness
One late July afternoon, an online call connected us with Bohdan Eduard, a young Ukrainian man who had just finished a day’s work in Ho Chi Minh City. Bohdan smiled, adjusted his camera and began telling me about his journey in Viet Nam.
Hai Phong: Vietnamese and International Melodies Foster Friendship
Familiar Vietnamese songs, alongside melodies associated with the cultures of Laos, Cambodia, Russia, Cuba and France, were featured at the 2026 Peace Song Exchange Program, held on October 7 in Hai Phong.
I Was Never Just Passing Through Viet Nam
In May 2026, during the final days of his tenure in Viet Nam, I met with Saadi Salama, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine and former Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Viet Nam. He spoke Vietnamese naturally and unhurriedly, occasionally using idiomatic expressions that made one forget he was a foreigner. When he spoke of Hanoi, his eyes lit up with joy tinged with nostalgia. “I am not just a visitor passing through Viet Nam,” he said.
Strengthening People-to-People Exchanges, Nurturing Viet Nam-RoK Friendship
The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations held a ceremony on October 3 to celebrate the National Day of the Republic of Korea (October 3, 2333 BC - October 3, 2026). At the ceremony, representatives of the two countries affirmed the important role of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding, close ties and friendship between Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
More Than VND 1.46 Billion Supports School Meals for Children in Quang Tri
Zhi Shan Foundation, in coordination with the South Quang Tri Social Work Center and eight schools in five communes - Huong Hiep, Dakrong, Ba Long, La Lay and Ta Rut - reviewed the results of the Child Nutrition Improvement Project for the 2025-2026 school year and presented nearly VND 1.46 billion to support school meals during the first semester of the 2026-2027 school year on October 7.
HCMC Promotes People-to-People Diplomacy to Mobilize International Resources
With 117 foreign non-governmental organizations licensed to operate and more than VND 302.4 billion in approved committed aid as of September 2026, Ho Chi Minh City continues to promote the role of people-to-people diplomacy in connecting with international partners and resources for development and social welfare.
Some Volunteers Cannot Hold Back Their Tears When Saying Goodbye to Viet Nam
Returning to Viet Nam after nearly 20 years, I was truly amazed by the pace of change the country has undergone. Yet amid these changes, the warmth, hospitality and genuine affection that Vietnamese people have shown Japanese experts and volunteers remain unchanged.
Strengthening Ties with Hungarian Friends Who Love Viet Nam
In Budapest, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Hungary held a meeting with the Hungarian-Vietnamese Cultural Association to review joint activities carried out since the beginning of 2026 and discuss plans for activities to introduce and promote Vietnamese culture during the final months of the year.
Viet Nam’s Key Strength Lies in Its People
After 40 years of living and working in Viet Nam, Danish journalist, diplomat and businessman Thomas Bo Pedersen shares with Viet Nam Times Magazine his perspective on the country’s transformation, its people, and the attractiveness of its investment environment.
Connect Younger Generation, Carry on Hungary - Viet Nam Friendship
The Hungary - Viet Nam Friendship Association and the Association of Vietnamese People in Hungary recently held a gathering in Budapest. At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai emphasized the importance of fostering continuity between generations and attracting more young Hungarians to learn about Viet Nam and participate in friendship activities.
Young Venezuelans Explore Viet Nam
Dr. Carolus Wimmer, President of the Venezuela-Viet Nam Friendship House (CAVV), told Viet Nam Times Magazine about how young Venezuelans are learning Vietnamese, exploring Viet Nam’s culture and history, and learning about the stories that have connected the peoples of the two countries across generations.
Viet Nam, in Stories I Take Back to Japan
Viet Nam Times reporters met Nagino Kosuke on an autumn day in September, when the golden sunlight fell softly across the streets of Hanoi. The young man, with his gentle appearance and bright smile, was just days away from leaving Viet Nam and returning to Japan after three years of living and working in the country.
Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association: 30 Years of Building Bridges Between the Peoples
Over the past 30 years, the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association has maintained traditional friendship exchanges while expanding its activities to localities, businesses, educational institutions and younger generations. As Viet Nam-Thailand relations enter a new phase as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Association continues to renew its approaches and methods of operation, taking effectiveness and substantive value as the benchmarks for its activities.
Happiness in Simple Things
Living in Viet Nam, I have come to realise that happiness is sometimes not found in grand things. It can be found in a cup of coffee in the morning, a family meal shared together, or a conversation that no one is in a hurry to end…
Viet Nam-Philippines: Building Bridges Through Education
Nearly 2,000 Vietnamese students and trainees have completed programmes under educational cooperation between Thai Nguyen University and Philippine partners, while nearly 300 Filipino students have received scholarships to study in Viet Nam. As the two countries mark 50 years of diplomatic relations, a Hanoi roundtable highlighted the role of education in connecting people, developing young human resources and creating new opportunities for long-term cooperation.
Japan to Continue Supporting Viet Nam in Poverty Reduction and Narrowing Development Gaps
Japan will continue to support Viet Nam in its efforts to reduce poverty and narrow development gaps, said Masafumi Saito, First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam, in an interview with Viet Nam Times Magazine at the Workshop on sharing and scaling up results and Lessons learned from the project model “Improving the livelihoods of ethnic minority people in Son La province through agriculture and nutrition improvement.”
Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tu Elected President of Viet Nam-Sweden Friendship Association for 2026-2031 Term
On September 30 in Hanoi, the 6th National Congress of the Viet Nam-Sweden Friendship Association for the 2026-2031 term elected Nguyen Thanh Tu, Deputy Minister of Justice, as President of the Association. For the new term, the Association has identified the need to strongly renew its content and methods of operation, expanding from friendship exchanges to substantive connections and cooperation that deliver concrete results.
Quang Tri: Where War Memory Grows into Peace
On September 25, 2026, on the banks of the Nhat Le River in Dong Hoi Ward, Quang Tri Province, hundreds of doves were released from the foot of the Mother Suot Monument by domestic and international delegates, including former officials, diplomats, scholars, veterans and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Earlier, they had signed a panel bearing a Message of Peace, which will be sent to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The international symposium “From memory to the future: The value of peace,” held as part of the 2026 For Peace Festival, continued Quang Tri’s efforts to preserve memories of war, address its consequences and move toward building a cultural space for peace.
