HCM City, as Vietnam’s vibrant economic and cultural hub, has played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation between the two countries. French businesses, as well as educational, health care, heritage conservation, and urban development organisations have maintained an active and visible presence in the city.
At the gathering in Ho Chi Minh City to mark the Bastille Day of France. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) organised a gathering on July 11 to mark the Bastille Day of France (July 14, 1789 - 2025), demonstrating the enduring friendship between the local people and the European country.
President of the Vietnam - France Friendship Association's HCM City chapter (VFFA HCM City) Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung stressed that the meeting not only commemorated the French Revolution but also reflected on the robust development in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
She recalled the official visit to France by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in October last year, during which the Party chief and French President Emmanuel Macron concurred to upgrade the bilateral ties from a Strategic Partnership to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This elevation was reinforced by President Macron’s visit in May, with various agreements signed across such domains as railway infrastructure development, digital technology, energy and environment, defence – security, and culture – education.
HCM City, as Vietnam’s vibrant economic and cultural hub, has played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation between the two countries, Dung said, adding French businesses, as well as educational, health care, heritage conservation, and urban development organisations, have maintained an active and visible presence in the city.
Following its mergence with Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces, the city now possesses greater socio-economic potential, creating opportunities for the VFFA HCM City to expand its outreach. With new cultural diversity and resources, the association will broaden its impact, contributing to strengthening the Vietnam-France friendship relations, she said.
French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Emmanuelle Pavillon-Grosser, for her part, noted that the bilateral relations have reached a new high within just one year, underscoring that the Vietnam-France cooperation goes beyond politics to include economy, culture, and education.
She held that Ho Chi Minh City is home to a thriving French community of nearly 6,000, many of whom are proactively contributing to the host nation’s economic development. Furthermore, the support of the local residents who speak French or appreciate French culture has 🐓served as a powerful inspiration for activities to consolidate and develop the relationship between the people of both ꦏcountries.
At the exhibition featuring works from the 2025 Francophone painting contest. (Photo: VNA)
On the occasion, the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) held an exhibition and charity art auction, with selected works from the 2025 Francophone painting contest. All proceeds from the auction will go towards supporting disadvantaged child patients at the city Children’s Hospital 2./.
The two sides spoke highly of the continuously strengthened Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly through recent high-level delegation exchanges. They pledged to further foster parliamentary cooperation, highlighting the active contributions of the two countries’ friendship parliamentary groups to fostering the bilateral relations.
PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested the CPV and the PCF continue to strengthen cooperation, maintain delegation exchanges, share information and experiences in the Party building, and educate the younger generations about the friendship between the two countries, their people, and the two Parties
At the meeting, held on the sidelines of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3), both diplomats expressed their satisfaction with the positive outcomes of French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Vietnam in late May, marking another milestone in the relationship between the two countries.
US Ambassador Marc Knapper affirmed that the US is ready to continue working with Vietnam to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the bilateral relationship, based on mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political systems.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire Le Kim Quy traced the 50-year journey of bilateral relationship, noting strides in political dialogue, mutual support at international forums like the United Nations, the Francophonie, and the Non-Aligned Movement, and robust economic ties anchored in trade and investment.
Son and Rubio expressed their delight that their meeting coincides with the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-US diplomatic ties (July 12). They reviewed extraordinary strides made in various areas over the past three decades, especially since the upgrade of the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.
Thanh highlighted that the Ho Chi Minh Space is not only a special cultural and historical landmark, but also a source of inspiration for the human values, independence, and the quest for freedom that President Ho Chi Minh steadfastly pursued throughout his life.
With trust and mutual respect, Vietnam and the US are writing a new chapter of long-term cooperation, for the benefit of the people of the two countries and for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
This stride was made possible by a shared commitment to building bridges of friendship rooted in trust, strategic vision, and strong public support of both sides.
Thirty years ago, in the night of July 11, 1995 (US time), US President Bill Clinton officially announced the normalisation of diplomatic relations with Vietnam. In the early morning of July 12, 1995 (Vietnam time), Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet officially announced the normalisation of diplomatic relations with the US.
The seminar was the first activity in during Thanh’s visit, the first-ever by a top Vietnamese legislator since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1975.
Hansen said Denmark attaches importance to the Comprehensive Partnership and Green Strategic Partnership with Vietnam while speaking highly of the positive development in the bilateral relations over the recent past.
The Party Central Committee’s Politburo and Secretariat on July 11 announced disciplinary measures against three incumbent and former officials for serious violations of the Party's regulations and the State's laws while performing their duties.
Over the past three decades, two-way trade has increased more than 300 times, with Vietnam becoming a major player in global supply chains. Many major US corporations now view Vietnam as a strategic manufacturing and consumer market, while more Vietnamese firms are entering the highly competitive US market.
Three decades since the normalisation of bilateral ties, thanks to tireless efforts from both nations, Vietnam and the US have built mutual trust, becoming friends and comprehensive strategic partners across all sectors.
The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
People-to-people exchange has long served as a vital bridge between Vietnam and China, forming a strong social foundation for building trust, fostering cooperation, and maintaining peace. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025, the two Parties and Governments have jointly designated the year as the “Year of Vietnam-China Humanistic Exchange,” reflecting a shared strategic vision to promote sustainable bilateral relations rooted in public engagement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of China, Australia, and Algeria on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-58) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10.
The Lao Vice President asked the Central Committees of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) and the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union (LPRYU) to continue enhancing coordination to effectively implement their 2022–2027 cooperation agreement, especially in youth exchanges and education of younger generations about the countries’ traditional ties.
Three former US ambassadors to Vietnam have shared their views on the past achievements and future prospects of bilateral relations as the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of their diplomatic relations this July.
National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh held talks with French Senate Vice President Loic Hervé and French NA Vice-President Nadège Abomangoli, met with Anne Le Hénanff, Chairwoman of the France – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group (FVFG) in the French NA, and Amélia Lakrafi, General Delegate of the APF.
