On September 2, 2025, Vietnam will celebrate the 80th anniversary of its founding.
80 years is a special historical milestone for the entire country, the entire nation, and every Vietnamese person. It is not only a great national holiday, but also a symbol of the spirit of solidarity, patriotism, and unbreakable will of all generations of the Vietnamese people who sacrificed themselves and dedicated themselves to the independence and freedom of their homeland.
It was on September 2, 1945, in the historic Ba Dinh Square, that President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people, read the “Declaration of Independence,” marking the beginning of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which is now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This event opened a new era in the history of the nation—an era of independence and freedom.
To achieve this historic moment, the entire Vietnamese people rose up unanimously and carried out the August Revolution, putting an end to 80 years of French colonial rule. However, the path to complete independence and reunification did not end there. Vietnam had to go through two more difficult wars of resistance against the French colonizers and American imperialists.
Inspired by President Ho Chi Minh’s call that “nothing is more precious than independence and freedom,” the Vietnamese people fought with unwavering courage, enduring incredible hardships, losses, and sacrifices, and finally, in 1975, gained independence, freedom, and reunited the country.
From a besieged and isolated country, backward and severely devastated by 30 years of war against foreign invaders, Vietnam has transformed itself into a state with a rapidly growing economy, ranking among the top 35 economies in terms of GDP and among the top 20 economies in the world in terms of trade.
Vietnam pursues an independent and autonomous foreign policy aimed at maintaining peace, cooperation, and development, adheres to the principles of multilateralism and diversity, and strives to be a friend, reliable partner, and responsible member of the international community.
In terms of national defense, Vietnam has established regular, elite, and gradually modernized armed forces and adheres to a policy of “four no’s” (no military alliances, no foreign bases, no collusion with one country against another, and no use or threat of force).
Vietnam currently has diplomatic relations with 194 countries around the world and attaches great importance to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations with all its traditional friends, among which Ukraine occupies a special place.
For many years, Vietnam and Ukraine have maintained comprehensive partnership and cooperation in various fields, from economics and trade to science, technology, culture, and humanitarian exchanges.
Many generations of Vietnamese have studied and worked in Ukraine. Many of them now hold important positions in government agencies, and some are successful businesspeople. For example, Vietnam’s first billionaire, Pham Nhat Vuong, earned his first money while living in Kharkiv in the early 1990s, when he launched the instant noodle brand Mivina.
Many Ukrainian specialists and engineers also came to Vietnam to help the country with its post-war reconstruction.
Thousands of Vietnamese chose Ukraine as their second home and stayed here after studying and working.
Despite the challenges posed by the war, bilateral trade remains stable: in the first half of 2025, bilateral trade grew by 30% compared to the same period in 2024, increasing from $430 million to $560 million.
Looking ahead, as confirmed by Vietnamese President Le Quang in his congratulatory message to President Zelensky on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, Vietnam is ready to further strengthen cooperation with Ukraine in various fields, from trade and economy to science, technology, and culture, in the interests of the peoples of both countries.
The Trump Organization and a local partner are exploring plans to build a skyscraper in Vietnam’s business hub of Ho Chi Minh City, with Eric Trump expected to visit this week, a Vietnamese government document seen by Reuters shows.
The visit by the son of U.S. President Donald Trump comes just after Vietnam gave his family business the green light for a separate $1.5-billion golf project as the export-reliant southeast Asian nation holds talks with Washington to avoid punitive trade tariffs.
Ho Chi Minh City officials are invited to “attend a dinner party with Eric Trump, senior vice president of the Trump Organization” set for Thursday evening at a central hotel in the city, according to the internal document.
The May 15 document, signed by the acting head of the foreign ministry department in the city, said representatives of the Trump Organization would visit an upscale central area.
There they would “survey the proposed location of the Trump Tower building and hope to have a working session with the city’s leaders about this project”, it added, inviting local authorities to cooperate with the business delegation.
The Trump Organization is run by Trump’s children after he handed off its leadership after he won his first term as U.S. president.
Another meeting between Ho Chi Minh City authorities and a representative of the venture between the Trump Organization and its Vietnamese partner, real estate developer Kinhbac City (KBC.HM)
, opens new tab, is set for later on Monday, the document showed.
Both meetings are confirmed in a public schedule published on Monday on the Ho Chi Minh City website, which does not, however, elaborate on their content or name the participants.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry, the Trump Organization and Kinhbac City did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
With the skyscraper plan in an early stage, it is unclear if it will be pursued by the Trump Organization and if authorities will approve it.
MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR PLANS
Vietnam faces tariffs of 46% on its exports to the United States if it cannot strike a compromise with the White House before a pause on global “reciprocal” duties expires in July.
It has made pledges to Washington to avoid tariffs, from lowering tariffs and non-tariff barriers, combating trade frauds and counterfeiting, and offering favourable conditions to Starlink, owned by Trump’s close ally Elon Musk, to roll out internet services in the country.
The plan for the Trump delegation’s visit, which could change, comes after Vietnam approved last week a plan by the Trump Organization and Kinhbac City to invest $1.5 billion in golf courses, hotels and real estate projects in its north.
A person with direct knowledge confirmed Eric Trump’s visit to Vietnam this week and said the groundbreaking ceremony for the golf project in northern Vietnam was set for Wednesday.
The person declined to be identified as the events were still being organised.
In March, Reuters reported that the groundbreaking event was set for May, and that the Trump Organization and its local partner were also seeking additional projects in the country.
Although they are considering multi-billion-dollar investments in Vietnam, it is unclear how the two share costs and revenues, and what conditions have been set for use of the Trump franchise.
The Trump Organization has luxury golf projects, existing or under development, in countries from Indonesia to the Middle East.
Ho Chi Minh City, plan for tower, Trump Organization, VIETNAM
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
