The Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations receives the First-Class Labour Order at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of its Traditional Day in Ha Noi on November 17, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The Congress is expected to bring together approximately 600 delegates and guests. Delegates will include representatives of the Union's central and local member organisations and its central agency. Guests will include representatives of the leadership of the Party, State and Viet Nam Fatherland Front; Party committees, ministries and sectors; diplomatic missions, international organizations and the Union's partners.

The Congress will review the implementation of the Resolution adopted at the 6th Congress for the 2019-2026 term; examine its results, causes and lessons learned; and determine the orientations, objectives, tasks and solutions for the 2026-2031 term. The Congress will also consider relevant documents and proposed amendments and supplements to the Charter, as well as undertake personnel preparations for the new term.

According to the Organising Committee, the Congress will discuss requirements for continuing to comprehensively renew the content and modes of operation of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations system; expand and deepen relations with international friends and partners; strengthen connections between localities and foreign partners and domestic stakeholders; and improve the effectiveness of mobilising and managing international resources.

This orientation builds on the shift that took shape during the 2019-2026 term.

During the new term, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations will continue to expand relations with people-to-people organizations, non-governmental organizations, businesses, universities, research institutes, intellectuals and young people. Alongside developing its network, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations is expected to strengthen connections between foreign partners and localities and domestic stakeholders.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man meets Korean friends in Seoul on September 6, 2026, as part of a program jointly organised by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. (Photo: National Assembly Portal)

The areas of cooperation identified include the economy, science and technology, innovation, education, green growth and exchanges among younger generations.

The Congress will propose annual targets for the development of organizations and individual partners, as well as for connecting pairs of localities and foreign partners with domestic stakeholders. Several targets concerning a shared database, digital platform-based governance and the foreign-language proficiency of officials will be set according to specific timelines.

The three breakthrough areas will be institutions and coordination mechanisms; digital transformation and data development; and improving the quality of personnel engaged in people-to-people diplomacy.

For Impact That Lasts Beyond the Project According to Karolina Rutkowska, Country Programme Director of VVOB in Viet Nam, a cooperation programme only truly creates value when its results extend beyond the implementation period, while also building the capacity, working methods and commitment needed to sustain the changes after the project ends.

Events That Bring Partners Together People-to-people diplomacy activities have now become “events” that “bring together” Vietnamese organizations, businesses, localities and projects with international partners for cooperation and partnership, creating practical and tangible outcomes for their respective tasks.