On October 5 in Lao Cai, the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee and the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association held a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Association's establishment. The event was attended by Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Hung; President of the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association Nguyen Van Thanh; Ambassador of Thailand to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya; Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Giang Quoc Hung; Vice President of the Thai-Vietnamese Association in Thailand Luong Xuan Hoa; as well as representatives of agencies, friendship organizations, local friendship associations, the Vietnamese community in Thailand and Thai delegates.

Delegates attend the anniversary ceremony. (Photo: Lao Cai Provincial Portal)

The event was part of a series of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam-Thailand diplomatic relations (1976-2026), taking place as bilateral relations were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, opening a new phase of development.

Linking friendship exchanges with practical cooperation needs

Established in 1996 under a decision of the Prime Minister, the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association (the Association) is tasked with strengthening solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

Senior Lieutenant General, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, President of the Viet Nam-Thailand Friendship Association, delivers the opening remarks at the anniversary ceremony. (Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper)

According to Senior Lieutenant General, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, President of the Association, over the past 30 years and through five congresses, alongside the development of bilateral relations, the Association has gradually strengthened its organizational structure and renewed its activities in terms of content and methods, affirming its role as a bridge between the peoples of Viet Nam and Thailand.

In its early years, the Association's activities focused primarily on friendship exchanges, delegation exchanges, and introducing the cultures, countries and people of the two nations. Its scope of activities was subsequently expanded and more closely linked to practical cooperation needs. Alongside traditional activities such as exchanging greetings on the two countries' traditional New Year holidays and National Days, participating in the Kathina robe-offering ceremony, and organizing cultural and artistic exchanges, the Association has stepped up efforts to connect localities, businesses, universities, social organizations and younger generations.

The Association and the Thailand-Viet Nam Friendship Association have jointly organized five seminars to provide information and connect businesses, helping facilitate opportunities for enterprises from the two countries, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, to export products in which they have strengths and import products according to demand.

In education, through cooperation between the two Associations, five scholarships have been awarded to disadvantaged Vietnamese students to study at Mechai Bamboo School in Buriram Province, Thailand. The two Associations have also connected and promoted cooperation between Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Mae Fah Luang University; and between FPT University, Khon Kaen University, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi and Chulalongkorn University.

People-to-people foundation for new cooperation

Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya noted that the Association has actively promoted people-to-people exchanges through an exchange mechanism with the Thailand-Viet Nam Friendship Association; maintained networks of exchanges between provinces and cities of the two countries; and promoted cooperation in education, sports, culture and between the Vietnamese and Thai business communities.

Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya speaks at the anniversary ceremony. (Photo: Lao Cai Provincial Portal)

According to the Ambassador, the strong foundation of bilateral relations stems from the close bonds between the peoples of Viet Nam and Thailand. She highlighted the three memorial sites dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom and Phichit, which have received attention and been preserved by local communities and the Thai Government, as well as the Annamnikaya Buddhist temple system in various provinces and cities across Thailand, which has been restored and maintained by Thai Buddhists. More than 100,000 Thai people of Vietnamese descent across generations have become deeply integrated into Thai society, playing a role in promoting people-to-people exchanges and economic relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya affirmed that she personally, along with the Embassy of Thailand in Hanoi, would continue to closely coordinate with the Association to build increasingly dynamic, close and extensive Thailand-Viet Nam relations at all levels and across various fields.

Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai People's Committee Giang Quoc Hung said the province wishes to work with the Association, the Embassy of Thailand in Viet Nam, the Thai-Vietnamese Association in Thailand and friendship organizations to further strengthen people-to-people exchanges and connect Lao Cai with localities, organizations, businesses and educational institutions in Thailand.

Vice Chairman of the Lao Cai People's Committee Giang Quoc Hung gives an overview of the province's potential and strengths in socio-economic development. (Photo: Lao Cai Provincial Portal)

Lao Cai places particular emphasis on promoting cooperation in investment, trade, logistics, high-tech agriculture, agro-forestry processing, tourism, culture, education and training, science and technology, and green and sustainable development. The province also seeks to strengthen cultural, artistic and sports exchanges, delegation exchanges and exchanges among younger generations.

According to Giang Quoc Hung, connections at the people-to-people level provide an important foundation for promoting cooperation among localities, businesses and organizations in Viet Nam and Thailand. Lao Cai is committed to continuing to facilitate and coordinate with the Association, the Thai Embassy and Thai partners in implementing exchange and cooperation programs. The province is also ready to welcome Thai businesses, organizations and people to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment, tourism and exchanges in the locality.

Honoring Enduring Friendship and Close Cooperation Between Vietnam and Thailand Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung said the 81st National Day celebration marks a pivotal year for Vietnam, following the successful organization of the 14th National Party Congress.

Vietnam-Thailand Art Exhibition Strengthens Cultural Bonds From August 18 to 30, the Vietnam-Thailand Painting Exhibition is taking place at the Art Museum of Khon Kaen University in northeastern Thailand, featuring 100 outstanding works by artists from the two countries.