Friendship
Sharing from Viet Nam
From humanitarian support and disaster relief to United Nations peacekeeping operations, the people of Viet Nam have created positive, effective, and sincere images in the eyes of international friends as well as in global missions.
Focus
Strengthening Viet Nam-Europe People-to-People Ties Through Knowledge and Technology
In a world marked by volatility, people-to-people diplomacy serves as a bridge that nurtures mutual understanding and trust among nations, providing a durable foundation for friendship and cooperation. From contributing to peace and stability to unlocking external resources, the people-to-people channel has increasingly demonstrated its capacity to mobilize knowledge, technology, finance, and international experience for development. Through exchanges and cooperation among peoples, Viet Nam not only gains access to advanced models but also strengthens bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs in education, health, science and technology, environment, and innovation, thereby transforming goodwill and friendship into actionable capacity.
Focus
Multilateral People-to-People Diplomacy: Some Lessons and Reflections
Throughout 75 years of formation and development, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations have affirmed their core role in people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to strengthening and expanding the network of international friends, promoting and safeguarding national interests, and enhancing the position of Viet Nam in the international arena.
Remark on 75th Anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations
VietnamTimes Magazine respectfully presents the full text of the speech delivered by President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son at the Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Traditional Day (17 November 1950 - 17 November 2025), the Conferment of the First-Class Labour Order, and the National Patriotic Emulation Congress for the 2025-2030 period.
Congratulatory Letter from the President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations
On November 17, 2025, in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations solemnly held the Ceremony Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of its Traditional Day, the Presentation of the First-Class Labor Order, and the Patriotic Emulation Congress for the 2025-2030 period. On this significant occasion, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son sent a congratulatory letter to all officials, public servants, employees, and individuals who have been and are directly engaged in people-to-people diplomacy within the system of the Union.
Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations: Friendship Flourishes Through Creativity
In recent years, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations (Dong Nai Union) has introduced numerous innovations in organizing contests, exchange activities, and cultural–artistic programs. Through these platforms, the spirit of solidarity and friendship, as well as the image of friendly and hospitable Vietnamese people, has been strongly spread to international friends.
Viet Nam-Russia Friendship Association: External Communications Amplified Through Practical Actions
On the morning of November 5, 2025, the Viet Nam – Russia Friendship Association, in coordination with the Army Library, held in Ha Noi an event to introduce a book by writer Nguyen Quang Chanh about the heroes and commandos of the Saigon Special Forces during the resistance war against the United States, published in Russian. The event was attended by many generals of the Viet Nam People’s Army; officials and members of the Viet Nam – Russia Friendship Association; representatives of the Russian Embassy and the Russian Center of Science and Culture in Ha Noi; lecturers and students of the Russian Studies Department of Ha Noi University; and journalists from Viet Nam and Russia. A figure featured in the book - Vu Minh Nghia (also known as Chinh Nghia), the only woman among the 15 Saigon commando fighters who took part in the assault on the puppet Presidential Palace in the early hours of the second day of the 1968 Tet Offensive, together with relatives of several fallen commando soldiers, engaged in an exchange with the attendees. The book launch event received extensive media coverage across official press outlets and social media platforms.
PeaceTrees Vietnam: Healing War Legacies, Building the Future
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), VietnamTimes Magazine spoke with Claire Yunker, Executive Director of PeaceTrees Vietnam, a US humanitarian organization that has persisted for nearly 30 years in clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, restoring areas devastated by war, and helping to build a peaceful and safe future for generations to come.
A Decade of Research Enhancing Food Safety: ILRI’s Contribution in Viet Nam
The year 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO). This is also an opportunity to look back and appreciate long-term partnerships that have contributed to Viet Nam’s overall development. The partnership between the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Vietnamese counterparts has been clearly demonstrated through scientific collaboration, contributing to improved food safety (FS), better public health, and the development of a sustainable food system.
Hai Phong: Integrating People-to-People Diplomacy into Foreign Non-Governmental Projects
In recent years, the integration of people-to-people diplomacy into the implementation of foreign non-governmental programs and projects in Hai Phong City has produced highly practical and meaningful results.
Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and Ensuring of Human Rights in Viet Nam
Human rights, or the rights of the person, are a universal concept, a shared value of humankind and also a fundamental objective of nations in their struggles for peace, democracy, justice and social progress.
VUFO: Partnering with Plan International for Children’s Well-being
This was shared by Le Quynh Lan, Country Director of Plan International Viet Nam, when speaking about the organization’s journey of more than 30 years accompanying Vietnamese children. For her, the support and connection provided by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) has created important conditions that enabled Plan International to effectively implement development programs and spread humane, sustainable values for children.
Dr. Tra My: People-to-people Ties are Key to Fostering Viet Nam-China Relations
The Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) serves as a reliable bridge, creating favorable conditions for the Viet Nam Business Association in China to connect with many reputable Chinese corporations and institutions, giving them opportunities to meet, exchange, and work directly with strategic partners in Vietnam. These were the remarks shared by Dr. Tra My, President of the Vietnam Business Association in China, regarding the outstanding results of cooperation with VUFO.
![[Photo] Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Presents Report to President Ho Chi Minh on Occasion of its 75th Traditional Day](https://vietnamtimes.thoidai.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2025/112025/14/10/40e3ab8281d4ab798f0744b1f1ad06b2.jpg?rt=20251114104154)
[Photo] Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Presents Report to President Ho Chi Minh on Occasion of its 75th Traditional Day
On November 13 in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) held a ceremony to present its report to President Ho Chi Minh in commemoration of its 75th Traditional Day (November 17, 1950 - November 17, 2025) and the Patriotic Emulation Congress for the 2025-2030 period. The solemn program was attended by VUFO leaders, officials, and staff.
Viet Nam-Cuba Friendship Association in Proud 75-Year Journey of Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations
In 1950, the resistance war against French colonialism entered a new phase, as the Vietnamese revolution established official relations with revolutionary forces around the world, including the Soviet Union, China, and others. The Viet Nam Committee for the Protection of World Peace was founded in the Viet Bac resistance base as the first people-to-people diplomacy organization, serving as the predecessor of today’s Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO).
FNF: Bringing Spirit of “Freedom, Responsibility, and Innovation” into Cooperation Activities in Vietnam
On November 12 in Hanoi, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF, Germany) held a farewell reception, marking the conclusion of its operations in Vietnam. The event served as an opportunity to acknowledge and express gratitude for the organization’s contributions to promoting Vietnam–Germany mutual understanding and development cooperation in Vietnam.
The Vietnam Peace and Development Council Contributes to the Draft Documents for the 14th National Party Congress
On November 12 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Peace and Development Council held a seminar to provide comments on the draft documents for the 14th National Party Congress.
Economic Diplomacy: Perspective from Activities of Viet Nam-Singapore Friendship Association
In the context of Viet Nam actively implementing its policy of economic diplomacy to serve national development, the activities of the Viet Nam-Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA) have undergone significant and appropriate shifts, harmoniously combining people-to-people diplomacy with economic diplomacy. The Association’s initiatives and action programs are always oriented toward individuals and communities, closely aligned with, and practically supporting Viet Nam’s socio-economic development programs.
Viet Nam-Cuba Solidarity: Command of Heart
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025), Cuban Ambassador to Viet Nam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes shared with VietnamTimes magazine his reflections on the special friendship between the two countries.
Da Nang and “Three-Step Formula” for Sustainable People-to-People Diplomacy
After nearly three decades of establishment and development, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organizations (DAFO) has affirmed its position as a model example in Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy - a comprehensive, effective, and sustainable operational model that creatively connects with international friends and contributes positively to the city’s integration process along the Han River.
Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Actively Engages in and Organizes High-Level External Activities Abroad
During 2024-2025, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) has taken the lead and cooperated with partners to organize numerous friendship exchanges and meetings in conjunction with visits and working trips by Party and State leaders to various countries, contributing to strengthening friendship between the people of Viet Nam and international friends.
Viet Nam-USA Society: 80 Years of Remarkable Journey
Through people-to-people diplomacy, messages of reconciliation have been conveyed and acknowledged by the leaders of both countries. It was the efforts of people-to-people diplomacy, with the Viet Nam-USA Society at its core, through various channels connecting American organizations and individuals who supported normalization and the establishment of relations with Viet Nam, that served as a driving force leading to the normalization of relations and the establishment of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and the United States on July 12, 1995.
![[Infographics] History of Formation and Development of Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations](https://vietnamtimes.thoidai.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2025/112025/11/15/croped/f22fbadc74fe6438bb62c495e51dbfed.jpg)
[Infographics] History of Formation and Development of Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations
History of Formation and Development of Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations.
