Hai Phong: Integrating People-to-People Diplomacy into Foreign Non-Governmental Projects

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Leaders of Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organization and Tzuchi Organization together with local authorities presented study grants to students in difficult circumstances. (Source: Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations).

People-to-people diplomacy is an important component of Viet Nam’s overall diplomatic front, carried out by organizations and mass associations from the central to local levels with the aim of strengthening solidarity and friendship with the peoples of other countries, helping to create a peaceful and stable environment for national development, ensuring the successful building and safeguarding of the Fatherland.

In essence, people-to-people diplomacy serves as a means of communication and mobilization, encouraging Vietnamese people at home and abroad to uphold the Party and State’s policies of peace, solidarity, friendship and cooperation with other nations; while also mobilizing foreign organizations and peoples to support the Party and State’s foreign policy of diversification and multilateralization, and the aspiration that Viet Nam be a friend to all nations around the world. People-to-people diplomacy has the distinct advantage of engaging with many countries and a wide variety of political and social organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which the Party’s external relations and state diplomacy may find difficult or impossible to access.

It is challenging to list comprehensively the diverse forms and approaches of people-to-people diplomacy in practice. For the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations, in addition to its regular and traditional activities, such as commemorative ceremonies, meetings and friendship exchanges on major anniversaries, festivals and partner holidays; cultural, linguistic and community-exchange programs, the Union has proactively integrated people-to-people diplomacy into the implementation of foreign non-governmental programs and projects at the local level.

In recent years, alongside the proper and effective receipt and implementation of foreign non-governmental aid, the Friendship Cooperation Center under the Union has coordinated with relevant agencies, units and localities to welcome numerous delegations of international volunteers who directly participated in project implementation. These delegations also engaged in volunteer activities, cultural and language exchanges, artistic performances and sports events with local partners.

In 2024, within the framework of a project supporting the construction of seven friendship houses for households in difficult housing conditions and two school sanitation facilities in the former districts of Tu Ky and Cam Giang, with total funding of over VND3 billion (US$114,000) provided by Copion and the Industrial Bank of Korea, the Center and local authorities welcomed two delegations with nearly 150 volunteers from the Industrial Bank of Korea. These volunteers joined hands with local communities to build houses for disadvantaged families and construct school sanitation facilities, while also participating in friendship exchanges.

Under the foreign non-governmental project “Support for disadvantaged groups in Hai Duong Province,” the Hai Phong Union Office received two international volunteer groups consisting of 21 volunteers from GPI (Republic of Korea) for friendship exchanges, including haircut services, painting activities, sports competitions, artistic performances and photography, for students at Bac An Primary School in the former Chi Linh City. These activities carried deep practical significance, leaving strong positive impressions on donors and receiving high appreciation from local authorities and communities.

Through volunteer activities, international participants had the opportunity to experience real-life situations and learn about local life, culture and customs. Teachers, students and local residents likewise had opportunities to learn about foreign cultures and languages, observe the professional working style of international volunteers, and promote the distinctive cultural identity of Hai Phong to foreign friends.

Cultural exchange program between volunteers from Good People International Korea and students of Bac An Primary School. (Source: Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organization).

Carrying out this work requires meticulous and comprehensive preparation, from harmonizing schedules, destinations and program content to organizing interactions and exchanges with foreign partners. In addition, special attention must be given to entry procedures for delegations, ensuring compliance with Viet Nam’s legal regulations.

Another critical aspect is communication. Information about these activities is disseminated widely through local media outlets such as newspapers, radio and television stations, official web portals and the Union’s website. This helps promote solidarity and friendship and creates a positive impact on people-to-people diplomacy.

It can be said that the integration of people-to-people diplomacy into the implementation of foreign non-governmental programs and projects in Hai Phong City has yielded highly practical outcomes. On one hand, it maximizes and enhances the value of aid resources, contributing effectively to social-welfare policies and the city’s socioeconomic-development goals. On the other hand, it strengthens people-to-people diplomacy, fostering solidarity, friendship, cooperation, trust and mutual understanding between the people of Viet Nam, particularly the people of Hai Phong, and the peoples and friends of countries in the region and around the world.

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