​On the morning of May 23, 2025, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association/ the traditional day of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association at the hall of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. The ceremony is part of a series of activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation in 2025.

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Do Van Chien - Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Central Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Vietnam - Mr. Bezdetko Gennady Stepanovich; Consul General of the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City - Mr. Sadykov Timur Sirozhevich; leaders of the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association, representatives from various ministries, departments, Union of Friendship Organizations, businesses, representatives of former students from Soviet Union/Russian universities, representatives from educational institutions teaching Russian in the Hanoi area; leaders and members of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association at the Central level, in 31 provinces and cities, and 18 affiliated branches under the Central Association.

Mr. Do Van Chien - Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Central Party Committee, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, speaking at the anniversary ceremony (Photo: Hương Diep)

75 years of companionship and development alongside the diplomatic history of the nation

At the ceremony, Mr. Phan Chi Hieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and Chairman of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association, stated that for the past 75 years, the Vietnam - Soviet Union/Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association has continuously grown, operating according to its principles and purposes, affirming its position and role, and making significant contributions to developing and deepening the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two peoples, thus promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

After Vietnam and the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950), following the directive of President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnam -  Soviet Union Friendship Association was established on May 23, 1950. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association continued its activities, promoting efforts to maintain friendly relations with the peoples of the former Soviet Union. On December 19, 1994, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association was founded, inheriting the organizational structure and operational experience of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association in developing and strengthening relations with the people of the Russian Federation in the new phase. The Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association designates May 23 as its traditional day.

In the resistance career and national salvation of our people, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association has done well in mobilizing public opinion, securing support and assistance from the Soviet people. After 1975, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association continued to serve as a bridge to receive assistance from the Soviet Union for the efforts to overcome the consequences of war, as well as to build and develop the country under new conditions. During this period, the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association made significant contributions to information work, propaganda, and introducing the Soviet Union, awakening and nurturing the feelings of the Vietnamese people towards the homeland of Lenin and the October Revolution through exhibitions of photos, books, competitions to learn about the Soviet Union, and friendly emulation movements on projects that bear the strong imprint of Vietnam - Soviet Union friendship, such as the Son La Hydropower Plant, Tri An Hydropower Plant, and the Vietnam - Russia joint venture Vietsovpetro.

The Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association organized a meeting between a delegation of businesses from Amur Province, Russian Far East, and Vietnamese entrepreneurs (Photo: Duc Ha).

In recent years, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association has closely followed the guidelines and policies of the Party and State regarding people-to-people diplomacy, bringing many innovations in the content and form of activities, and focusing on enhancing practicality and effectiveness in its work. The Association has implemented many meaningful activities, notably: organizing the translation and publication in Vietnam of books about the affection of the Russian people for the beloved President Ho Chi Minh; publishing a collection of translated poetry about the great patriotic war of the Soviet people; organizing practical scientific seminars on the role of people-to-people diplomacy in developing Vietnam - Russia relations; annually organizing international children's painting competitions, artistic performance programs, and exhibitions in both countries to enhance understanding of each other's countries, people, and culture, as well as the traditional friendship and good cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation; while also focusing on implementing many activities to introduce and connect organizations, universities, businesses, and localities of both countries, building cooperative relations in the fields of education and training, culture, trade, investment, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

It can be seen that the practical activities and results of the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association in the past and the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association today are vivid evidence that contributes to affirming the position and role of people-to-people diplomacy. With the motto of "proactive, flexible, creative, and effective," and with a diverse range of participants and partners in various fields of content and form of cooperation, the people-to-people diplomacy between Vietnam and Russia demonstrates its ability to encompass many areas of social life. Accordingly, each member is increasingly proud of the 75-year tradition of building and developing, loves the great Russian country even more, and is more aware of the responsibility to join hands and contribute to building a strong association, actively participating in the development and deepening of the traditional solidarity and friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and the Russian Federation.

Building a strong association, renewing the content of activities, and expanding the network of partners.

In the new phase of Vietnam - Russia relations after the two countries signed the Treaty on the Basic Principles of Friendly Relations (June 16, 1994), the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association has renewed its methods of operation, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association of the Russian Federation, which has been the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association since 2007, organizing diverse and effective activities that contribute to the development and elevation of the traditional friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between the peoples of the two countries. The Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association and the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association always stand together, help each other in a fraternal spirit. The two Associations signed a Cooperation Agreement for each 5 - year period, providing a framework for coordinated activities in solidarity and friendship. Both sides also proactively proposed measures suitable for the new situation to ensure that all activities spread widely and yield practical results. Most recently, this included signing a Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association and the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association for the 2025 - 2030 period during the official visit of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, to Russia and his attendance at the 80th anniversary celebration of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet people on May 9, 2025.

On May 11, 2025, the President of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association, Phan Chi Hieu, and the President of the Russia - Vietnam Friendship Association, Vladimir Buyanov, signed and exchanged the cooperation agreement between the two Friendship Associations for the 2025 - 2030 period.

As of May 2025, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association has been established in 31 provinces and cities. At universities, businesses, and among the contacts of former students from the Soviet Union/ Russia, as well as former military personnel from various branches, 18 sub - associations have been formed under the Central Association. The local Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association and its sub-associations carry out creative activities that contribute to preserving and enhancing the traditional friendship and effective cooperation programs between the peoples of Vietnam and Russia.

In addition, the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association has established partnerships with several localities and educational institutions in Russia. Notably, the Association has expanded and strengthened its relations with the city of Saint Petersburg. The city's government recognizes the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association as a key partner in Vietnam of the Committee for External Relations of Saint-Petersburg to connect and expand friendly relations and cooperation between Saint Petersburg and Vietnamese organizations and localities.

Chairman of the the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Do Van Chien, awarded the Prime Minister's Certificate of Merit to the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association.

At the anniversary ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leadership, Chairman Do Van Chien commended the Association's achievements and congratulated the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association on receiving the Prime Minister's Certificate of Merit. This recognition by the Party and State reflects their acknowledgment of the Association's efforts over the years, as well as their expectations for innovation and creativity in the Association's activities in the future.