April 30, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam.
50 years ago, not only did the Vietnam War (1955-1975), one of the most exhausting and long-lasting wars of the second half of the twentieth century, end, but also Vietnam’s long struggle for independence from colonial rule and foreign interference.
The Vietnamese people not only gained independence and united the country in defense of their land, but also demonstrated to the world the importance of the spirit of national unity and faith in their principles, which allowed them to fight a just struggle to secure the country’s freedom, independence, and sovereignty.
The protracted military conflict, during which about four million Vietnamese died (civilians suffered the greatest losses) and more than 58,000 U.S. military personnel were killed, was put to an end.
April 30, 1975 was a historic event when North and South Vietnam officially united after many years of war to form the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Currently, Vietnam consistently adheres to the “Four No’s” policy: not to enter into military alliances; not to side with one country against another; not to allow foreign militaries to establish bases in Vietnam or use Vietnam’s territory as leverage against others; and not to use or threaten the use of force in international relations.
Defensive diplomacy has become the mainstay of Vietnamese diplomacy. To date, Vietnam has been actively involved in the United Nations peacekeeping mission, international cooperation in non-traditional security, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and post-war mitigation, thus making a great contribution to maintaining international and regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
Vietnam and Ukraine have traditional friendly relations. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese have studied and worked in Ukraine. Thousands of Vietnamese have chosen Ukraine as their second home and stayed here after studying and working. In Ukraine
is home to a large Vietnamese diaspora (before the war, it numbered about 10,000 people).
Trade between Vietnam and Ukraine dropped after the outbreak of the war, but has now begun to grow again, and delegations have been exchanged.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has met twice with President Zelenskyy at international events.
Minister Dmytro Kuleba also met with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister at an ASEAN meeting.
Andriy Sybiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs, held telephone talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son on the potential of bilateral relations and the need to intensify high-level dialogue.
What has happened in the past with Vietnam over the decades provides at least two lessons for the modern world.
First, the independence, sovereignty, and integrity of every nation, large or small, should be respected.
Secondly, the Cold War between the great powers only brings misery to small countries trapped in this competition.
The lessons of history are very relevant and can be useful for establishing peace in Ukraine.
On April 30, 2025, Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of the country’s reunification, which has become a major milestone in the history of not only the republic itself but also the entire Southeast Asian region. This event put an end to the long-lasting military conflict and became a symbol of the victory of national unity, self-determination and independence.
Historical significance
On April 30, 1975, the fall of Saigon ended a more than twenty-year war that claimed millions of lives. This date marked the unification of North and South Vietnam and the beginning of a new stage in the country’s history.
The liberation of South Vietnam was the result of the Vietnamese people’s heroic struggle for sovereignty, will to self-determination, and ability to resist external interference.
Half a century of transformation: economic and social breakthrough
Today, Vietnam is among the fastest growing economies in Asia. Since the launch of the Đổi Mới reforms in 1986, the country’s GDP has increased tenfold.
– GDP in 2023 exceeded $476 billion;
– Exports reached a record $405.53 billion;
– The country has become a major production and logistics hub for global corporations.
Active foreign economic policy, steady growth rates, attention to innovation and green economy – all this shapes Vietnam’s image as a reliable international partner.
Potential for cooperation with Ukraine
In the context of global supply chain reformatting and geopolitical shifts, Vietnam-Ukraine relations are gaining new importance.
– Ukraine offers strong agricultural and engineering potential;
– Vietnam – access to ASEAN, low production costs, and logistics location.
Cooperation is possible in the following areas:
– Energy (solar and wind),
– IT and outsourcing,
– electronics and textile production,
– agricultural technologies and education.
Looking to the future
Celebrating its half-century anniversary, Hanoi is not only summarizing its historical results, but also signaling its readiness to meet new global challenges. Vietnam’s economic strategy until 2045 envisages joining the ranks of highly developed countries.
In this context, deepening ties with Ukraine, as part of the new Eastern European configuration, may open additional channels for the development and modernization of both countries.
Information about the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
– Area: about 331,212 km²
– Population: about 98 million people (2022)
– Literacy rate: about 94%.
– Main trading partners: China, USA, Japan, South Korea, Germany
– Main exports: electronics, textiles, footwear, seafood, coffee, rice
– GDP growth over the past 10 years: from 2013 to 2023, GDP grew from $187 billion to $410 billion, indicating significant economic growth in the country.
During his visit to the United States, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President of Vietnam To Lam to discuss the development of bilateral relations, the increase in trade, and Vietnam’s participation in the post-war recovery of Ukraine.
“We talked about the development of bilateral relations and the increase in trade between our countries, particularly in the agricultural industry. Thank you for your humanitarian support and willingness to join Ukraine’s recovery after the war,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.
A solemn ceremony to mark ASEAN Day, which brought together diplomatic missions of Southeast Asian countries, Ukrainian officials and guests, took place in the Indonesian Park at the Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv.
“ASEAN started as an organization of five countries and gradually expanded its ranks to include Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Today, thanks to our unity, we continue to promote peace and stability in the region. The value of good relations with neighbors has been known since ancient times… Although ASEAN has not yet reached the level of cohesion as the European Union, we believe that our association is the best form of unification to address regional challenges,” said Nguyen Hong Thac, Ambassador of Vietnam to Ukraine.
In his turn, Ambassador of Indonesia to Ukraine Arif Muhammad Basalama noted that ASEAN has made significant progress in promoting economic growth, cultural exchange and political stability over 57 years. “Our unity allows us to overcome challenges and seize opportunities to improve the lives of our peoples. In the spirit of ‘One Vision, One Identity, One Community’, we look forward to deepening our partnership with Ukraine,” the diplomat added.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok by the five founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The main goal of the organization is to promote economic growth, cultural exchange, political stability and regional cooperation.
Today, ASEAN has ten member states, including Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Through cooperation and integration, the organization continues to develop, advocating for peace and stability in the region.
Arif Muhammad Basalama, ASEAN, ASIA, INDONESIA, Nguyen Hong Thac, VIETNAM
Active Group and Experts Club conducted a joint study on the attitudes of Ukrainians towards the countries of East Asia and the Middle East. The research was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency in June 2024. The research was presented by Maksym Urakin and Oleksandr Poznyi. The results of the study are as follows:
The results of the survey are as follows:
Completely positive – 7.2
Mostly positive – 31.1 %.
Mostly negative – 9.8
Completely negative – 3.8 %.
Difficult to answer – 48.1%.
Positive – Negative – 24.6
On January 23, 1992, Ukraine and Vietnam established diplomatic relations.
The joint research by Active Group and Experts Club on the attitudes of Ukrainians towards the countries of East Asia and the Middle East was conducted in April-May 2024. It covers such countries as Turkey, Iran, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, India, China, Republic of Korea, DPRK, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Syria, and Iraq. Full information on the research is available on the website of the Club of Experts at
https://expertsclub.eu/cpilne-doslidzhennya-kompaniyi-active-group-ta-experts-club-shhodo-stavlennya-ukrayincziv-do-krayin-shidnoyi-aziyi-ta-blyzkogo-shodu/
Video – https://interfax.com.ua/news/video/993142.html
On May 16, 2024, the Kyiv Zoo hosted the opening ceremony of a children’s slide in the form of the Turtle sculpture, which represents the symbol of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
This project is the work of both Vietnamese and Ukrainian designers. Ukrainian creators made it in the national style of Vietnam.
The grand opening was attended by distinguished guests – representatives of diplomatic missions of foreign countries accredited in Ukraine, high-ranking parliamentary officials, members of the Vietnamese community, soldiers and officers who took part in the Vietnam War, educators and cultural figures.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Thanh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, welcomed the guests.
“We are pleased to open a new “children’s slide” in Kyiv Zoo. It will be a place where children will be able to have fun in the zoo with their parents. In wartime, the zoo is a place where people can regain their balance after sirens and explosions. The Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine is very proud to have completed a modest project in cooperation with our Ukrainian friends to help Kyiv residents overcome today’s difficult time,” the ambassador said.
As it turned out, the project was conceived before the active hostilities.
“The project originated from my meeting with the mayor of Kyiv before the war. Back then, we were thinking of doing something to demonstrate the friendship between Hanoi and Kyiv. Today we are happy that after some time this idea has become a reality. This is the first time that the symbol of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, has been displayed in public and in the heart of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. It is also a symbol of friendship between Vietnam and Ukraine.
Our two countries have experienced decades of friendly relations and mutual assistance, both in wartime and in the construction of each country’s homeland. The establishment of this symbol of friendship is both a reaffirmation of our cooperation and a commitment that we will develop Vietnamese-Ukrainian relations together,” added Ambassador of Vietnam to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova Nguyen Hoang Thanh.
In conclusion, Mr. Ambassador expressed his gratitude to Mr. Kyrylo Trantyn, Director General of Kyiv Zoo, for cooperation and support of this project, as well as to the two sponsoring companies: “Eurofood Service and Svetprint.
The official part of the event was followed by a performance by the Veselka folk artistic choreographic group of the Vasylkiv Center for Children and Youth Creativity.
Vietnam recognized independent Ukraine on December 27, 1991. On January 23, 1992, diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. The same year, the Embassy of Vietnam in Ukraine was opened, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Vietnam was also opened.
