Vietnam - Brazil Relations: Close and Substantive Ties Rooted in People-to-People Foundations

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A series of high-level diplomatic activities and the signing of numerous cooperation documents in areas such as agriculture, high technology, sports, culture, and climate change adaptation vividly demonstrate the new strides in the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Brazil is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Latin America, with bilateral trade reaching over USD 8 billion in 2024 and expected to hit USD 10 billion this year, with a target of USD 15 billion by 2030. Both countries are promoting cooperation in areas of shared strength and mutual interest such as agriculture, energy, science and technology, culture, environmental protection, and climate change response. These are key pillars for the Action Plan to implement the Strategic Partnership for the 2025-2030 period and provide opportunities for both countries to exchange major orientations to boost trade, investment, and effectively implement their strategies for diversifying markets, products, and supply chains amid global economic volatility.

Though geographically distant, half a world apart, the peoples of Vietnam and Brazil share many common values such as sincerity, hospitality, a spirit of friendship, and openness. In Brazil, there exists a generation shaped by the solidarity movement in support of Vietnam, with President Lula da Silva standing as a prominent symbol. Both countries share aspirations for peace, national development, and the well-being of their people.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on May 8, 1989, Vietnam - Brazil relations have made significant strides. In the early 2000s, political ties began to develop, followed by a series of high-level visits and robust growth in economic cooperation: from a few tens of millions of dollars in trade to nearly USD 10 billion today. These achievements result from combined efforts in political, economic, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Launch of the Portuguese-Vietnamese thematic dictionary led by the Vietnam - Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association (Photo: Thu Ha)

Over the 15 years since its establishment in 2010, the Vietnam - Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association has organized numerous delegations of Vietnamese businesses to Brazil to connect with local partners; hosted Brazilian delegations visiting Vietnam; strengthened ties with the Brazil - Vietnam Friendship Association, the Brazilian Center for Peace and Solidarity, and the Brazil - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group. The Association has also actively organized seminars, promoted the country and people of Brazil, and published articles introducing the bilateral relationship. Notably, it compiled and published the Portuguese - Vietnamese Thematic Dictionary (2024), a substantive contribution to linguistic and cultural exchange.

From the pactical experience and over 20 years of observing Vietnam - Brazil relations, I would like to offer several recommendations to enhance the role of the Association in the future:

First, the Association should strengthen information dissemination and publicity about the country, people, and cooperation potential between the two nations, particularly in areas such as economy, trade, culture, sports, and science and technology. This should be done in a concrete and accessible manner to overcome the challenges posed by geographical distance and language barriers, especially since Portuguese is the primary language used in Brazil, including across mainstream media.

Second, it is important to consolidate the organizational structure and improve operational efficiency, particularly that of the Association's Secretariat, business clubs, and the club of those who have worked or studied in Brazil. The Association should actively strengthen connections with Brazilian partners and friends, the Vietnamese community in Brazil, and the Brazilian community in Vietnam.

Third, cooperation should be enhanced with Vietnamese agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and enterprises from both countries. At the same time, it is essential to maintain close relations with the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil and the Brazilian Embassy in Vietnam.

Fourth, the Association should proactively seek funding sources to ensure the sustainable and flexible maintenance of its activities.

Fifth, it should actively promote the learning of Portuguese in Vietnam and Vietnamese in Brazil, an important foundation for expanding cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges.

Launch ceremony of the Club for Vietnamese who worked/studied in Brazil, 2019. (Photo: Vietnam - Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association)

From the image of Brazil as the land of football, the Amazon rainforest, coffee, and samba, the Vietnamese people have come to gain a deeper understanding of a vast, hospitable country with one of the world’s top ten economies. In turn, the Brazilian people have consistently held a special affection for Vietnam, a resilient nation that has fought for its independence and now pursues sustainable development. This forms a solid foundation for fostering increasingly substantive and close-knit people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Speaking at the Vietnam - Brazil Economic Forum (March 29, 2025), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the two countries’ relations converge on five key similarities that are dominantly complementary. These include shared ideals and mutual trust; cultural affinity, especially in patriotism, respect for friends, deep sense of loyalty, and a people-centered approach to development; complementary economies, where each country’s strengths meet the other’s needs; warm, sincere sentiment; and a shared aspiration to eradicate poverty and build strong, prosperous, and civilized nations with peace, cooperation, development, and progress, ultimately bringing happiness and prosperity to their people.

During his visit to Vietnam, President Lula da Silva expressed admiration for President Ho Chi Minh, national liberation hero and world cultural icon. He affirmed that he came to Vietnam not only in his capacity as Head of State but also as a close friend.

This marks a new momentum and a foundation for advancing Vietnam - Brazil relations into a breakthrough development phase. The Vietnam - Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association will continue to be an essential contributor to this process, helping to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries, toward sustainable, substantive, and comprehensive development.

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