Culture, Friendship Exchange Between Vietnam and Bulgaria
	Ambassador Marinela Petkova Honored for her Contribution to Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship

The event served as an occasion to honor Bulgaria’s cultural, educational, intellectual values, and writing system, while also contributing to enhanced people-to-people exchanges and further deepening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

Attending the ceremony were Nguyen Sinh Hung, former Chairman of the National Assembly; Le Minh Nam, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Parliamentary Friendship Group; Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; and Huynh Quyet Thang, President of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association. On the Bulgarian side was Pavlin Todorov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to Vietnam.

Overview of the commemorative ceremony. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the ceremony, Huynh Quyet Thang, President of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association, emphasized: “The Day of Bulgarian Culture, Education, and the Slavic Script is not only a day to honor a writing system, but also a day to celebrate the light of knowledge, the power of education, the depth of culture, and the aspiration of a nation to rise. For Bulgaria, writing is not merely a means of recording language; it is the memory of the nation, the foundation of education, the symbol of cultural identity, and a bridge connecting the past, present, and future.

We are even more appreciative as the Cyrillic script has become one of the official scripts of the European Union, thereby affirming Bulgaria’s distinctive cultural contribution to European civilization.

Although Vietnam and Bulgaria are geographically distant, they have always been closely connected through sincere affection, mutual sharing, and a longstanding tradition of friendship cultivated over many decades. The Vietnamese people will never forget the valuable support and assistance that the Bulgarian people extended during Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the country’s subsequent process of construction and development.

Huynh Quyet Thang, President of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Huynh Quyet Thang, one of the most vivid symbols of Vietnam-Bulgaria friendship is the generations of Vietnamese who studied, worked, conducted research, and matured in Bulgaria. Many officials, engineers, scientists, managers, experts, and entrepreneurs of Vietnam were trained in Bulgaria, carrying with them not only professional knowledge but also deep affection for the country, its people, language, writing system, and culture. Many of them have made significant contributions to Vietnam’s development, becoming enduring bridges connecting the friendship between the two nations.

Speaking at the ceremony, Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Pavlin Todorov affirmed: “For us Bulgarians, May 24 is a celebration of spiritual life, of the aspiration for knowledge, progress, and enlightenment. It is an occasion for us to express our gratitude for the power of language, education, and culture. At the same time, this day reminds us of the role of language and culture as bridges connecting nations, forming the foundation of mutual understanding and friendship.

It is especially meaningful that today we are celebrating this occasion together with our close Vietnamese friends. This is a vivid symbol of the long-standing friendship between Bulgaria and Vietnam - a relationship that was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025. This year, we also mark the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Pavlin Todorov. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

On behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria and in my personal capacity, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association for its steadfast support, for the relationships that have been carefully nurtured with dedication, and for your long-term commitment to Bulgaria-Vietnam friendship".

At the ceremony, delegates also reviewed a number of cultural and educational initiatives implemented in recent years, such as the publication of a new edition of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Dictionary, the inauguration of the “Bulgaria Corner” at the University of Da Lat, the organization of the Bulgarian Rose Festival, as well as scientific seminars, cultural events, and Bulgaria-Vietnam musical nights.

Numerous cultural performances imbued with Bulgarian characteristics. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In the context of Vietnam-Bulgaria relations being elevated to a Strategic Partnership in 2025, the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association has identified its continued role as a bridge for people-to-people diplomacy; connecting generations of former students, experts, scientists, and entrepreneurs; and promoting exchanges in culture, education, science and technology, innovation, as well as cooperation between localities, businesses, and young people of both countries.

Delegates expressed their confidence that, building on the traditional friendship and the framework of the Strategic Partnership, Vietnam-Bulgaria relations will continue to develop more deeply in politics, more substantively in economics, more dynamically in science and technology, more closely in culture, and more sustainably in the hearts of the people of both nations.

Bulgarian Ambassador Visits Duong Lam Ancient Village The Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam immersed himself in the history and culture of the Duong Lam ancient village.

Culture and Education Is Foundation of Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship The Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association coordinated with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Vietnam to celebrate Bulgarian Culture and Education Day and ...