Strengthening People-to-People Diplomacy of Hanoi in the Context of Innovation

	Vietnam-US People-to-People Cooperation: Healing the Past, Inspiring the Future
	Promoting the Strength of People-to-People Diplomacy in the New Context

Currently, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations has 26 friendship associations and member organizations. With the support of the City’s leadership and the active involvement of departments, sectors, unions, and communes and wards, and guided by the motto “proactive, flexible, creative, and effective,” the Union has skillfully mobilized and attracted a large number of international friends to participate. The people-to-people diplomacy activities of Hanoi consistently leave a positive impression on international friends thanks to careful preparation, professional organization, and meaningful content, enabling them to understand the people and culture of Viet Nam, as well as the thousand-year-old Thang Long heritage. This is also why the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations is trusted and beloved by international friends, who affectionately refer to it as the “bridge of friendship” connecting the people of Hanoi with people around the world.

The “ASEAN Colors” Friendship Exchange Program organized by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, August 23, 2025. (Photo: HAUFO)

Moreover, through diverse and rich forms and models of activity, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations has brought people-to-people diplomacy closer to the public. A notable example is the model in which Lao students are paired with members of the Hanoi Viet Nam - Lao Friendship Association as godparents. The students stay, eat, and live in Vietnamese households, helping them practice Vietnamese, learn about Vietnamese culture and people, and deepen the bonds of friendship between the peoples of Viet Nam and Laos.

Implementing Resolution 15-NQ/TW dated May 5, 2022, of the Politburo on orientations and tasks for the development of Hanoi Capital to 2030 with a vision to 2045; Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation; and Clause 2, Article 52 of the amended Capital Law on proactively expanding relations and friendly cooperation with capitals of other countries, mobilizing external resources for building and developing the Capital, and enhancing people-to-people diplomacy by creating favorable conditions for agencies, organizations, and residents of the Capital to participate in international exchange and cooperation activities in the fields of economy, culture - society, education, science, and technology, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations has organized a seminar on promoting the role of people-to-people diplomacy in the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

The 2025 International Children's Painting Contest “I Love Hanoi – City for Peace” organized by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, September 20, 2025. (Photo: HAUFO)

To date, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations has completed three information technology projects and put them into operation: videoconferencing and online briefing systems, data digitization, and the official web portal of the Union. These efforts have significantly contributed to applying information technology and digital transformation to people-to-people diplomacy, allowing information to spread more quickly and effectively and reach a wide international audience in the digital age, in accordance with Directive 12-CT/TW dated January 5, 2022, of the Party Secretariat on strengthening the Party’s leadership to improve the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the new situation, and Resolution 59 of the Politburo on “International integration in the new context.”

Following the Party’s guidelines and policies, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations has proactively advised the City Party Committee and the People’s Committee to issue important mechanisms and policies. Notably, on August 8, 2025, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee issued Directive 45-CT/TU on strengthening people-to-people diplomacy in Hanoi to 2030 with a vision to 2045. The directive requires mobilizing the entire political system to advance people-to-people diplomacy closely linked with Party diplomacy and state diplomacy. It affirms that strengthening and improving the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy contributes to consolidating the great national unity bloc and successfully achieving the goals of building and developing Hanoi as a “Civilized - Cultured - Modern Capital,” while also reinforcing people-to-people diplomacy as a key pillar of Viet Nam’s comprehensive, modern diplomacy. Directive 45-CT/TU and the Resolution on mechanisms and policies to strengthen external affairs activities of Hanoi under the amended Capital Law serve as a solid legal foundation, creating favorable conditions for the development of people-to-people diplomacy in the Capital to meet the demands of the new situation.

The web portal of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations. (Screenshot)

To continue promoting the achievements gained and enhancing the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the context of innovation, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations is implementing key tasks to concretize the spirit of Directive 45-CT/TU, closely linking it with resolutions and directives of the Central Government and the City Party Committee, while meeting the growing demands of international integration. Accordingly, the Union continues to advise the Hanoi People’s Committee on developing the project “Enhancing the Effectiveness of People-to-People Diplomacy in the Capital to 2030, Vision to 2045,” as well as the Action Program to promote the value of Hanoi’s title as the “City for Peace”; advises the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi to issue a plan for implementing Directive 45-CT/TU; and develops its own Action Program to implement the Directive, strengthening its role as a specialized body for people-to-people diplomacy, coordinating with member organizations of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and with Party committees and authorities at all levels to mobilize and unite the people, contributing to the great national unity bloc and attracting external resources for the construction and development of the Capital.

Improving the advisory effectiveness of Party committees and local authorities is a decisive factor in meeting the strategic requirements of Resolution 59-NQ/TW and Directive 45-CT/TU of the Hanoi Party Committee. For the Capital to become a “City for Peace” and a regional Innovation Hub by 2045, the leadership and direction of people-to-people diplomacy must transition from traditional diplomacy to knowledge-based and technology-driven diplomacy. This requires the entire political system to ensure thorough synchronization between people-to-people diplomacy and digital economic development programs and smart city initiatives.

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