Vietnam has provided Ukraine with a new package of humanitarian aid worth $500,000, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga announced on October 20, 2026. This is the second aid package of this size announced by Vietnam since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression.
“We deeply appreciate this significant gesture of goodwill, compassion, and solidarity with the Ukrainian people during these difficult times. It is especially timely on the eve of winter,” the head of Ukraine’s foreign ministry wrote on the social media platform X.
Details regarding the distribution of the new package—specifically concerning the humanitarian programs and organizations through which the funds will be channeled—have not yet been disclosed.
Earlier, in May 2022, the Vietnamese government announced that it would provide Ukraine with $500,000 in humanitarian aid. The decision was made in response to a call by the United Nations to support populations affected by the war.
According to an official statement from the Vietnamese government dated May 12, 2022, $100,000 of this amount was allocated to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), $100,000 to the World Health Organization (WHO), and another $100,000 to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The remaining $200,000 was allocated through the Vietnamese Red Cross to be transferred to the Ukrainian Red Cross and to fund humanitarian efforts.
Thus, the total amount of the two humanitarian aid packages announced by Vietnam for Ukraine in 2022 and 2026 is $1 million.
Vietnam supports humanitarian initiatives by the UN and international organizations aimed at providing assistance to those affected by armed conflicts. A statement by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2022 also emphasized the need to protect the civilian population, ensure the security of critical infrastructure, and uphold international humanitarian law.
Ukraine and Vietnam have maintained diplomatic relations for over 34 years. Cooperation between the countries encompasses trade, education, science and technology, humanitarian exchanges, and collaboration within international organizations.
Vietnam recognized Ukraine’s independence on December 27, 1991, less than four months after it was proclaimed. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were officially established on January 23, 1992, following the signing of a protocol in Kyiv.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Kyiv began operations in 1993, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Hanoi was opened in 1997. In 1996, the two countries signed the Treaty on the Principles of Relations and Cooperation, which became one of the key documents of the bilateral legal framework.
In January 2027, Ukraine and Vietnam will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
DIPLOMACY, HUMANITARIAN AID, international cooperation, UKRAINE, VIETNAM
According to Experts Club, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Vietnam in August 2026 remain predominantly neutral: 60.5% of respondents hold this view. Twenty-one point five percent of those surveyed view the country positively, while 12.2% view it negatively. Compared to March, the share of positive assessments has increased slightly, although the negative segment has also grown, reports the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
According to the results of the August survey, 5.5% of Ukrainians have a completely positive attitude toward Vietnam, while 16% have a mostly positive attitude. 60.5% of respondents chose a neutral response. 11.2% expressed a mostly negative attitude, 1% a completely negative one, and another 5.9% were undecided.
According to the rounded data in the table, the balance of positive and negative assessments is approximately plus 9.3 percentage points, while in the consolidated survey results, it is reported at plus 9.4 percentage points. Vietnam thus remains in the positive balance zone, but the main feature of its perception is not explicit sympathy or antipathy, but a significant proportion of neutral responses.
In March 2026, 6.1% of respondents had a completely positive attitude toward Vietnam, and 13.3% had a mostly positive attitude. The overall positive rating in the survey was 19.3%. A neutral stance was held by 66.9% of respondents, a negative attitude accounted for 10.5%, and another 3.3% were undecided.
Thus, over the course of five months, the share of positive assessments increased by approximately 2.2 percentage points—to 21.5%—while negative assessments rose by 1.7 percentage points, to 12.2%. In contrast, the neutral group shrank by 6.4 percentage points—from 66.9% to 60.5%. The share of those who found it difficult to answer rose from 3.3% to 5.9%.
These changes indicate the gradual formation of a more defined attitude toward Vietnam, although the process is moving in both positive and negative directions simultaneously. At the same time, the positive balance has remained virtually unchanged: in March it stood at approximately plus 8.8 percentage points, and in August—at approximately plus 9.4 percentage points.
At the same time, Vietnam is one of Ukraine’s major trading partners in Southeast Asia. Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club information and analytical center and a candidate of economic sciences, emphasized the importance of geographic diversification in Ukraine’s foreign trade.
“The latest foreign trade data demonstrate not only the geographic diversification of Ukraine’s trading partners but also a clear focus on integration into the European and global markets. Despite the challenging security situation, Ukrainian businesses continue to expand into international economic networks, particularly in the sectors of agricultural products, metallurgy, and machine building. Significant growth in trade with EU countries and the U.S., as well as the maintenance of strong cooperation with China and Turkey, indicate that Ukraine has not lost its ability to be an active player in the global market,” Urakin noted.
In the case of Vietnam, the survey results show significant potential for shaping a more distinct public image of the country. Despite a decline in the neutral segment, three out of five Ukrainians still do not have a clearly positive or negative attitude toward Vietnam.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The previous wave in March also included 800 respondents; the sample was representative by age, gender, and region, with a maximum theoretical margin of error of ±3.5 percentage points for indicators at the 50% confidence level.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, international relations, PUBLIC OPINION, SOCIOLOGY, Southeast Asia, UKRAINE, VIETNAM
According to Experts Club, most countries in South and Southeast Asia are characterized by a high proportion of neutral attitudes among Ukrainians—ranging from 48.3% for India to 68.9% for Malaysia. Thailand received the highest proportion of positive assessments among the countries surveyed—30.9%—while India is the only country in the group with a distinctly negative balance of attitudes. This is evidenced by the results of the third wave of the study “Ukrainians’ Attitudes Toward Countries Around the World,” conducted by Active Group in collaboration with Experts Club, reports the Experts Club Information and Analytical Center.
Thailand is viewed positively by 30.9% of respondents, neutrally by 59.5%, negatively by 3.9%, and 5.7% were undecided. The balance of positive and negative assessments stands at 27 percentage points, compared to 25 percentage points in March 2026.
Vietnam is viewed positively by 21.5% of respondents, neutrally by 60.5%, and negatively by 12.1%. The balance stands at 9.4 percentage points and has gradually increased over the three waves of the survey: from 6.7 percentage points in August 2025 to 8.8 percentage points in March and 9.4 percentage points in August 2026.
Regarding Indonesia, 20.9% of Ukrainians expressed a positive attitude, 66.3% chose a neutral response, 6.1% expressed a negative attitude, and another 6.7% were undecided. The balance calculated from these percentages is 14.8 percentage points; on the slide, it is shown as 14.2 percentage points, which may be due to rounding or a technical discrepancy in the presentation.
Malaysia has the highest share of neutral assessments in the group—68.9%. 18.6% of respondents view it positively, 4.1% negatively, and another 8.4% were unable to answer. Overall, the published results confirm that public opinion regarding Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia is predominantly neutral rather than negative.
India stands out noticeably from the other countries in this group. 17.2% of respondents view it positively, while 31.5% view it negatively and 48.3% view it neutrally. As a result, the balance stands at minus 14.3 percentage points, compared to minus 5.6 percentage points in March 2026 and minus 10.3 percentage points in August 2025. Based on the overall results of the entire study, India has the second-lowest balance after China.
Maksym Urakin, founder of Experts Club, deputy director of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, and candidate of economic sciences, emphasized the need to analyze Ukrainians’ attitudes toward other countries alongside actual economic ties.
“In other words, the deficit has increased by more than $10 billion over the past year. Therefore, it is very important for us to analyze our main partners,” Urakin noted. In his opinion, sociological data can complement trade analysis and help better understand promising areas of international cooperation.
Oleksandr Pozniy, Director of the research company Active Group, drew attention to the importance of the economic and informational components of bilateral relations.
“We need to do more than just raise general awareness. First and foremost, business associations, the Ministry of Economy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must work to develop bilateral relations and improve the balance,” Pozniy noted. He also advocated for expanding cooperation with markets where Ukraine has opportunities to increase exports.
Overall, the results show a significant difference in perceptions of individual Asian countries. While neutrality prevails regarding Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia—with positive assessments outnumbering negative ones—perceptions of India lean toward the negative.
The survey was conducted in August 2026 using self-administered online questionnaires in the SunFlowerSociology panel among 800 Ukrainian citizens aged 18 and older. The sample is representative by age, gender, and region; the stated maximum theoretical statistical margin of error is ±3.5 percentage points. This is the third wave of the study, following surveys conducted in August 2025 and March 2026.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, INDIA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, SOCIOLOGY, SOUTH ASIA, Southeast Asia, THAILAND, UKRAINE, VIETNAM
To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, while on a working visit to the United States, actively participated in high-level events as part of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, whose general debate began on September 22, 2026.
This is his second high-level visit to the United States and the UN following the reshuffling of Vietnam’s leadership, which took place following the 14th National Party Congress and the elections to the National Assembly for the 2026–2031 term.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, To Lam held a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Fijian President Ratu
Naikama Lalabalavu, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, Swiss President Guy Parmelin, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ghanaian President John Mahama, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Tobgay, President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, as well as with representatives of Tanzania and the Holy See.
The Vietnamese leader also met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Khalilur Rahman.
This visit marked a historic milestone for Vietnamese diplomacy.
Since joining the UN in 1977, Vietnam has transformed from a country in need of international aid for post-war reconstruction into an active participant in multilateral diplomacy, increasingly engaging in the resolution of global issues.
The country has twice been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (in 2008–2009 and 2020–2021) and is currently a member of the UN Human Rights Council (2026–2028).
A landmark event in 2026 was Vietnam’s first-ever chairmanship of the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Hanoi has reaffirmed its status as a reliable partner that makes a significant contribution to peacebuilding processes and regional integration, particularly through its active participation in ASEAN and preparations for its chairmanship of APEC in 2027.
According to Vietnam’s position, the United Nations must retain its central role in the international system, and international issues should be resolved through dialogue, cooperation, and in accordance with international law. It is precisely this support for multilateralism, along with the desire to become more actively involved in addressing global issues, that constitutes one of the key messages of To Lam’s current participation in the General Assembly.
Vietnam seeks to develop international cooperation and wants to have a more significant voice in addressing global challenges.
During his address at the general debate on September 22, To Lam articulated the country’s clear position on managing global change and strengthening the international order.
The Vietnamese leader identified building trust among nations, based on unconditional respect for the UN Charter and international law, as the top priority.
He emphasized the need to reject the use of force and called for resolving any disputes exclusively through peaceful means via dialogue.
The president noted that while changes in the world order are an objective historical process, conflicts and confrontations are not inevitable; at the same time, the main task of leaders is to channel competition so that it does not escalate into open war.
To Lam also supported efforts to modernize the UN’s structure (in particular, the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Secretariat). He stressed that the reformed system must better take into account the interests of developing countries and give them a real voice in shaping international rules.
The Vietnamese leader expressed clear support for the principle of peaceful dispute resolution, particularly in the East (South China) Sea based on the 1982 UNCLOS Convention, and also expressed support for the “two-state” solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and called on the U.S. to lift sanctions against Cuba.
In his speech, the Vietnamese head of state also emphasized equitable access to scientific advances, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. According to him, a monopoly on data and digital infrastructure could create a new technological divide between wealthy and poor nations; therefore, technological progress must be accompanied by a culture of security and digital ethics.
He called for the establishment of inclusive and transparent principles for technology governance so that they would narrow the gap between countries rather than create new conflicts.
To Lam emphasized that any future strategies must place people at the center of development. Vietnam expressed its readiness to actively share its own successful experiences in the areas of poverty alleviation, sustainable agricultural development, and adaptation to climate change.
A particular focus of the trip was relations with the United States. Since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1995, the two countries have evolved from former adversaries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in September 2023. Cooperation today encompasses political dialogue, trade and investment, science and technology, education, defense and security, energy, as well as addressing the consequences of war and humanitarian issues.
During meetings in New York, To Lam reaffirmed that Vietnam views the United States as one of its strategically important partners and is committed to making the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership more stable, substantive, and practical. The current engagements—particularly with representatives of Congress, the trade and economic community, and the American business sector—demonstrate the parties’ commitment to filling this partnership with concrete projects in the areas of trade, investment, technology, and infrastructure.
Thus, To Lam’s participation in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly clearly demonstrates the combination of multilateral and bilateral approaches in Vietnamese diplomacy.
On the one hand, the country seeks active engagement in addressing global issues within the UN framework; on the other, it focuses on deepening practical cooperation with strategic partners, primarily the United States.
According to Experts Club, Vietnam is showing the highest growth rates in steel production among the world’s top ten countries, as evidenced by data published on September 24 by the World Steel Association.
In August 2026, the country produced approximately 2.7 million metric tons of steel, increasing output by 36.4% compared to August of last year.
From January through August, production reached 20.6 million metric tons, rising by approximately 29% year-over-year. This represents the highest growth rate among the world’s largest producers.
Based on cumulative results, Vietnam is already among the top ten global steel producers, closing in on Brazil in terms of production volume; Brazil produced 21.8 million metric tons over the same eight-month period.
By comparison, the world’s largest producer—China—reduced production by 3.1% to 651.9 million metric tons over the same period, while India increased its output by 6% to 115.9 million metric tons. The United States increased production by 5.5%, Turkey by 6.8%, and Germany by 6.3%.
As a result, the global steel market is becoming increasingly heterogeneous: despite an overall 0.7% decline in production from January through August, certain Asian markets continue to rapidly expand their capacity and production volumes.
The difference is particularly noticeable within Asia. In August, production across the Asia-Pacific region fell by 1.4% due to a decline in output in China, while India and Vietnam continued to grow.
As of the end of August, countries in Asia and Oceania accounted for 106.7 million metric tons of the 144.2 million metric tons of global output, or about 74% of global steel production.
Vietnam’s apartment market has cooled sharply following a period of rapid price growth: developers are facing a decline in transactions, buyer caution, and the need to stimulate sales.
According to local media reports, demand for apartments has dropped significantly amid high interest rates, inflationary pressures, and general geopolitical instability. Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction has also recorded a decline in transaction volumes nationwide, confirming the market’s shift from a phase of frenzied growth to more selective demand.
However, the market’s problem is not limited to a decline in buyer interest. An imbalance in supply persists in Vietnam: in the largest cities, primarily Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, there remains a shortage of affordable housing, while a significant portion of new projects falls into the higher-priced segment. Vietnam Investment Review notes that in the first quarter of 2026, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City continued to face a gap between supply and demand due to a shortage of affordable apartments.
The most pressing issue remains housing costs. In Hanoi, prices for new apartments continued to rise in the first quarter of 2026, reaching an average of approximately 128 million dong per square meter, while the secondary market has already begun to show signs of a price correction. Developers attribute the price increases to rising costs of construction materials, financing, and land.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the trend is different: after prices rose in 2025, the market began to cool, and in some areas, prices fell by 1–7%, which partially stimulated demand.
The Vietnamese government is trying to curb market overheating and expand the supply of affordable housing. Earlier, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for accelerating housing construction, simplifying administrative procedures, and developing social housing, as rising prices have made real estate purchases unaffordable for many families.
Additional pressure on the market is being created by the government’s plans to curb speculative demand. In January 2026, Reuters reported that Vietnam was preparing tax measures against speculation in the real estate market, where in 2025 apartment prices rose by 20–30% and land prices by 20–25%.
Thus, the Vietnamese apartment market is entering a more complex phase: prices remain high, there is a shortage of affordable supply, but demand is no longer ready to automatically absorb new properties at any price. For developers, this means the need to revise pricing policies, offer installment plans, discounts, and more realistic purchase terms. For buyers, it presents an opportunity for stronger bargaining positions, especially in the secondary market and in areas where supply is growing faster than demand.
