International Friends, Foreign Affairs Experts Offer Recommendations to Strengthen Ties Between Vietnamese People and the World

	Hai Phong Strengthens Vietnam-Thailand Connections through People-to-people Exchanges
	Friendship Associations between Vietnam and Thailand Set out Seven Key Tasks for 2026

Rad Kivette, Chief Executive Officer of the VinaCapital Foundation (United States):

Sustained Partnership for Vietnam’s Health Care and Education

The VinaCapital Foundation has been operating in Vietnam for nearly 20 years. Personally, I have been closely connected with Vietnam for about 25 years, and our commitment has always been fully devoted to this country. Everything we do for Vietnam, for Vietnamese children and mothers, is about standing alongside Vietnam and fulfilling the tasks for which we are needed.

Rad Kivette, Chief Executive Officer of the VinaCapital Foundation (United States). (Photo: Thu Phuong)

We would not have been able to achieve the results we have today without the support of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO). We are among the few non-governmental organizations able to operate in all 34 provinces and cities nationwide. Our programs focus on grassroots health care, arts education for children, support for pediatric cancer treatment, and capacity building. We invest millions of US dollars in medical equipment and in training district-level doctors across the country, while implementing projects in localities with the greatest needs. In addition to health care, education is also a key focus, particularly supporting ethnic minority girls in rural areas to access education and development opportunities. We hope to continue working alongside VUFO to make our modest contribution to Vietnam.

Kim Jae Chul, Country Representative of COPION in Vietnam:

More Favorable Conditions Needed for Visa Procedures

Kim Jae Chul, Country Representative of COPION in Vietnam. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

COPION has been operating in Vietnam for eight years, steadfastly pursuing its mission of supporting the education sector. During this time, COPION has carried out many practical activities, particularly sending volunteer teams from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to serve at primary and secondary schools. These are not merely work assignments but also opportunities for volunteers to engage in cultural exchange, gain deeper understanding of local educational life, and contribute to community development.

COPION also places strong emphasis on supporting Vietnamese-RoK multicultural families through two centers in Hanoi and Hai Phong, where families receive timely companionship and assistance.

In the course of implementing its activities, the organization has encountered certain difficulties related to project licensing procedures and visa applications for foreign staff. COPION hopes to continue receiving support from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, particularly in facilitating visa procedures to enhance work efficiency.

Looking ahead, COPION remains committed to long-term engagement in Vietnam’s education sector and to accompanying multicultural families. The organization believes that with close coordination among partners, including the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, COPION’s contributions will become increasingly practical and effective.

Keisuke Yoshimura, Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam:

Greater Priority Should Be Given to Climate Change and Population Aging

Keisuke Yoshimura, Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

The JICA Office has been operating in Vietnam for approximately 30 years, cooperating with many partners, including the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, to jointly seek solutions to Vietnam’s development challenges. Cooperation projects are always implemented in a spirit of partnership and with a focus on making practical contributions to the community.

Throughout this process, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has been an important partner, supporting the smooth and effective implementation of projects. In the future, should JICA encounter difficulties or obstacles, continued support from the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations would be a great source of encouragement for us.

Vietnam is facing many challenges to sustainable development, such as climate change and population aging. If the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations further prioritizes these areas, JICA believes that the two sides can continue to work together effectively and jointly contribute to Vietnam’s overall development goals.

Nguyen Van Huynh, Former Ambassador of Vietnam to Brazil:

Continuing to Implement Ho Chi Minh’s Thought on People-to-People Diplomacy

Nguyen Van Huynh, Former Ambassador of Vietnam to Brazil. (Photo: Pham Hung)

On November 17, 1950, in the Viet Bac Resistance Base, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the founding congress of the Vietnam Committee for the Protection of World Peace, the first multilateral people-to-people diplomacy organization of Vietnam and the predecessor of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. From that milestone to today marks exactly 75 years. In my view, in the new context, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations needs to thoroughly grasp and implement President Ho Chi Minh’s thought on foreign affairs, especially people-to-people diplomacy: Vietnam’s resistance struggle must be closely linked with the global people’s movement for peace.

The Second National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1951 identified the task of “expanding people-to-people diplomacy,” emphasizing the need to “develop people-to-people diplomacy widely, with particular attention to participating in major movements around the world and strengthening ties and organizing activities between Vietnamese mass organizations and people’s organizations worldwide.” During that period, the mission of people-to-people diplomacy was to mobilize and persuade international friends, peoples of various countries, social movements, peace movements, and left-wing movements to support Vietnam’s just struggle for national independence and reunification. Today, this guiding principle still needs to be continued in order to spread awareness and attract broader forces to participate in people-to-people diplomacy.

Alongside this, an important requirement for people-to-people diplomacy in the coming period is to build a well-structured and professional workforce: proficient in foreign languages, well-versed in our own and our partners’ guidelines and policies, and possessing a people-to-people diplomatic style. In particular, in the current stage, in addition to cultural understanding, officials must also have a solid grasp of economics in order to meet the demands of their tasks in the new situation.

Nguyen Viet Loan, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association:

People-to-People Channels as Key Connectors for Cooperation and Business in Vietnam

Nguyen Viet Loan, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association (far left). (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee)

The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, for the first time, clearly articulated the task to “continue to promote the pioneering role of foreign affairs in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilizing external resources for national development, and enhancing the country’s position and prestige.”

Amid significant fluctuations in the international and regional landscape, people-to-people diplomacy contributes to building a peaceful and stable environment, creating favorable conditions for cooperation, attracting investment, and bringing goods to international markets through exchanges and connections with overseas Vietnamese communities and international friends.

Today, opportunities for cooperation with major Thai corporates are no longer extensive; however, considerable potential remains with small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly startups. In addition to serving as a bridge of friendship between the peoples of the two countries, the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association is considering the establishment of groups and service centers in culture, tourism, and investment to act as focal points connecting entities seeking cooperation and business opportunities in Vietnam.

Scholar Uch Leang, Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), President of the Cambodian Alumni Association in Vietnam (CAVA):

Expanding and Enhancing the Effectiveness of the “Nurturing Friendship” Program

Scholar Uch Leang, Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), President of the Cambodian Alumni Association in Vietnam (CAVA). (Photo: Courtesy of the interviewee)

To strengthen understanding, connection, and friendship between the peoples of the two countries, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, together with the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, should continue to expand and enhance the effectiveness of the “Nurturing Friendship” program - an initiative launched by the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association.

Through this program, Vietnamese families provide sponsorship, care, and companionship to Cambodian students studying in Vietnam, helping them quickly integrate into Vietnamese life, culture, and society. Similarly, expanding this model to support Vietnamese students in Cambodia would help foster close ties between the younger generations of the two countries.

These humanitarian activities not only reflect the sincere and consistent affection between the two nations, but also contribute to building a solid foundation for Vietnam-Cambodia relations, where friendship, compassion, and cooperation for shared development become enduring bonds.

Rotational meetings between the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association and the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association should be organized in an open, substantive, and inclusive manner, creating conditions for associations and social organizations across diverse fields, such as alumni associations, business associations, cultural and artistic groups, and youth and women’s organizations, to participate together. Through this, stakeholders can exchange information, share experiences, address challenges, and seek new initiatives, thereby strengthening solidarity and comprehensive cooperation while spreading a spirit of closeness, mutual support, and deep mutual understanding within the communities of both countries.

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