The Congress was attended by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Seo Won Sam, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the RoK in Viet Nam; representatives from ministries and sectors; members of the Viet Nam-RoK Parliamentary Friendship Group; representatives of Viet Nam-RoK friendship associations in localities and affiliated chapters; as well as Korean scholars, organizations, businesses and partners.

The Congress elected 29 members to the Executive Committee and three members to the Inspection Committee for the 2026-2031 term. At its first meeting, the new Executive Committee elected the Standing Committee and the Association’s leadership. Nguyen Thanh Hai was elected President of the Viet Nam-RoK Friendship Association (the Association) for the 2026-2031 term.

Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, congratulates the Executive Committee of the Viet Nam-RoK Friendship Association. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Contributing more to the economy, science and technology

In her acceptance speech, Nguyen Thanh Hai thanked the Congress and the 4th Executive Committee for their confidence in her, saying the position was both an honor and a major responsibility. She spoke highly of the achievements made by the Association during its 3rd term and affirmed that the new Executive Committee would continue to maintain solidarity, build on existing achievements, and translate them into programs and tangible results.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, President of the Viet Nam-RoK Friendship Association for the 2026-2031 term, delivers her acceptance speech. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Nguyen Thanh Hai, the Association will strengthen coordination with Korean associations, businesses and investors, making greater contributions to the country's economic development. She said that as science and technology, innovation and digital transformation have been identified as important drivers of development, the Association needs to make better use of the participation of its members, businesses, friendship organizations and Korean partners in these fields.

The new President also emphasized the role of the Association’s grassroots network. She said that for the central-level Association to become stronger, local friendship associations, affiliated chapters and individual members must each bring their own roles and strengths into play.

Nguyen Thanh Hai affirmed that, together with the Standing Committee and the 4th Executive Committee, she would strive to make the Association’s activities increasingly substantive, contributing more to the country’s development and to Viet Nam-RoK relations.

Exchanges linked to concrete outcomes

According to the report submitted to the Congress, during the 2018-2026 term, the Association coordinated with Korean partners and domestic agencies and organizations to carry out a wide range of friendship exchange, cultural, economic, educational, and charity and humanitarian activities. Local friendship associations also proactively organized activities suited to the conditions and cooperation needs of their respective localities.

Seo Won Sam, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Viet Nam, delivers congratulatory remarks at the Congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

For the 2026-2031 term, the Association aims to further deepen friendship between the peoples of the two countries and contribute to strengthening the Viet Nam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It will also promote people-to-people diplomacy in support of socio-economic development and strengthen the Association’s organizational capacity.

The Association will renew the content and methods of its activities, expand its partner network, and enhance connections among organizations, localities, and businesses of the two countries. Friendship exchanges are expected to have specific content, target groups, and objectives, with follow-up after the activities conclude. Connections will seek tangible outcomes, such as establishing cooperative relationships, connecting businesses, promoting investment, organizing delegation exchanges, and launching new cooperation programs.

Supporting economic development cooperation is a key priority. The Association will strengthen connections in business, investment, science and technology, and innovation, while bringing together the cooperation needs of businesses, localities, and organizations in the two countries to identify suitable partners.

The Association also aims to strengthen its network at the local level and broaden the participation of businesses, science and technology institutions, cultural and educational organizations, and the Vietnamese community in the RoK. Long-term programs for young people and students will receive particular attention. A database of focal points, strengths, and cooperation needs of members, localities, and Korean partners will also be developed.

In his congratulatory remarks, Seo Won Sam, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the RoK in Viet Nam, congratulated Nguyen Thanh Hai on her election as President of the Association. He noted that she had made significant contributions to bilateral relations in her capacity as Chairwoman of the Viet Nam-RoK Parliamentary Friendship Group and expressed his confidence that she would continue to contribute to deepening bilateral ties in her new position.

Seo Won Sam, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Viet Nam, presents flowers to congratulate President Nguyen Thanh Hai. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Seo Won Sam, the strength of the Viet Nam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership lies not only in cooperation between the two Governments but also in the trust and friendship between the peoples of the two countries. He said the Viet Nam-RoK Friendship Association had played a bridging role over the past three decades and expressed his hope that the 4th National Congress would usher in a new phase of development for the Association.

Ambassador Choi Young Sam: Vietnam-RoK Relations Will Continue to Grow in Depth and Sustainability Concluding his diplomatic tenure in Vietnam, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Vietnam Choi Young Sam expressed confidence in the continued deepening and sustainable development of Vietnam-RoK relations, underpinned by growing mutual trust, close cooperation, and increasingly strong bonds between the peoples of the two countries. In an interview with Vietnam Times Magazine, Ambassador Choi Young Sam expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to further strengthen their bilateral partnership across a wide range of fields, including the economy, technology, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnamese and Republic of Korean Students Join Hands for Children in Hai Phong On August 2 in Quyet Thang commune, Hai Phong city, 70 Vietnamese and Republic of Korea students concluded a seven-day volunteer journey under the Hyundai Happy Move Global Youth Volunteers Programme 2026, carrying out a range of activities to improve learning conditions and support local children.