At the ceremony entitled “30 Years of Unilever in Việt Nam: 30 Years of Dedication – As Việt Nam is Home”, the company expressed its deep gratitude to the organisations and individuals who have supported it in advancing meaningful and sustainable change in Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, Country General Director of Unilever Vietnam, delivers the opening remarks.

Since the milestone year of 1995, Việt Nam’s transformation into a deeply integrated, globally connected economy has provided a critical foundation for Unilever’s development and long-term operations in the country. In parallel with this national progress, Unilever has introduced its portfolio of brands, advanced technologies, global expertise, and proven best practices to help strengthen Việt Nam’s domestic capabilities, serving local consumers while expanding exports to international markets.

Unilever Vietnam has gradually expanded its operational capacity, now comprising more than 1,300 employees, approximately 10,000 indirect workers, over 140 distributors, and a retail network of nearly 300,000 outlets nationwide. Its manufacturing and supply-chain system has been comprehensively digitalised, with AI integrated into 35 per cent of supply-chain processes and automation reaching 96 per cent at its factories. These advancements enable Unilever to ensure production efficiency, streamline distribution, and reliably serve millions of consumers across the country.

In the area of health and hygiene, the company’s programmes, in conjunction with regulatory agencies and partners, have helped 30 million people improve sanitation and health conditions and upgraded 1,410 school sanitation facilities nationwide.

In the environmental pillar, Unilever planted over 1 million trees between 2021 and 2025, contributing to ecosystem restoration.

Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương, Deputy Minister of Health, presents a Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Health to Unilever Vietnam in recognition of its outstanding achievements in implementing the Patriotic Hygiene Movement for the Improvement of Public Health during the 2012–2022 period.

In the climate pillar, Unilever Vietnam achieved net-zero emissions in its internal operations (Scope 1 and 2) as early as 2021, nine years ahead of the Group’s global commitment.

In the livelihood pillar, the company and its partners trained 90,000 women in entrepreneurship, provided 50,000 micro-loans via the New Beginnings Fund, and granted non-repayable seed capital to 167 women-led start-up projects.

Under the plastics and circular-economy pillar, Unilever achieved 66 per cent recyclable packaging, and for four consecutive years, it has collected and recycled more plastic than it placed on the market.

Over the past three decades, this has not just been a story of business growth but of Unilever walking alongside the country’s transformation. At the event, Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, Country Manager of Unilever Vietnam, emphasised that the greatest strides have stemmed from trust and collaboration between business and society.

“Thirty years is not just the journey of a company pursuing business growth; it is the journey of dreams, service, and human values that we have forged together. Over three decades, Unilever Vietnam has built brands deeply rooted in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, delivering high-quality products that serve millions of families across generations. Every step we have taken, from partnering with local communities and rolling out sustainable initiatives with the Government and organisations to standing side-by-side with distributors and retailers to bring our products to millions of Vietnamese homes, has been driven by one shared objective: together to create a healthier, greener, and brighter Việt Nam.”

The ceremony was held in a formal atmosphere, attended by representatives from central ministries and agencies, social organisations, business partners, and media outlets. Unilever Vietnam was honoured to receive the following:

• Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Health for outstanding achievements in implementing the “Patriotic Hygiene Movement for Public Health Improvement” during the 2012–2022 period.

• Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Young Physicians Association for significant contributions to the programme “For a Healthier Việt Nam” during 2024–2025.

• Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Education and Training for outstanding achievements in the socialisation of school solidification, classroom upgrading, and teachers’ housing facilities during 2013–2023.

• Certificate of Merit from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment for outstanding achievements in environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development.

• Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Women’s Union for outstanding achievements in implementing the movement “Building 5-Without, 3-Clean Families” as part of the National New Rural Development Programme during 2010–2025.

These commendations underscore the substantive and sustained contributions of Unilever Vietnam across preventive healthcare, hygiene education, environmental stewardship, and livelihood enhancement. They further constitute an important basis for the company to continue advancing its role as a committed partner and to broaden initiatives that support Việt Nam’s national agenda for sustainable development in the years to come.

As part of the anniversary event, Unilever signed strategic Memoranda of Understanding and announced partnership programmes, marking a new phase in reinforcing and extending collaborative initiatives for sustainable development:

• Memorandum of Understanding on the programme “For a Healthier and More Sustainable Việt Nam – Phase 2025–2030” between Unilever Vietnam and the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health.

• Memorandum of Understanding on the programme “Health Check-ups for a Healthier Việt Nam – Phase 2025–2028” between Unilever Vietnam, the Lifebuoy brand, and the Vietnam Young Physicians Association.

• Cooperation agreement on the programme “Healthy, Safe and Sustainable Schools – Phase 2025–2028” between Unilever Vietnam and UNICEF Vietnam.

• Announcement of the programme “Developing Green-Clean-Healthy Schools – Phase 2024–2029” in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training.

Additionally, Unilever Vietnam announced new commitments for the next chapter of its journey:

• To improve livelihoods and working conditions for 200,000 Vietnamese people over the next ten years.

• To educate and raise hygiene and health awareness among 10 million people in the next decade.

• Together with the OMO brand, to plant an additional 1 million trees between 2026–2030—helping to combat erosion, mitigate climate change, foster sustainable livelihoods, and enhance biodiversity.

• To achieve 100-per cent recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable plastic packaging by 2035.

Overview of the event.

These areas hold profound significance, closely linked to the social development of Việt Nam and its major national goals. Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương, Vice Minister of Health, commented: "I believe that, with the sense of responsibility, consensus, and strong determination from the Vietnam Administration of Disease Prevention as well as organisations like Unilever Vietnam, the programme 'For a Healthy and Sustainable Việt Nam' will help promote preventive healthcare, improve public health, and build a more sustainable Việt Nam for the people and by the people."

Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Việt Nam Iain Frew remarked: “The elevation of our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership marks a new era in UK–Việt Nam relations - one grounded in trust, shared vision, and practical collaboration. Unilever Vietnam perfectly embodies what this partnership looks like in action. Through your commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community impact, you are helping to build a future that is greener, fairer, and more resilient, showing how business can be a true force for good between our two nations, proving that business goals and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Ankush Wadehra, Deputy General Director of Unilever Vietnam for the Personal Care Sector, speaks at the event.

Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Việt Nam, also attended the event. She remarked: “Thanks to our partnership, for which we are very grateful, we will continue to lead our work, under the leadership of the government of Việt Nam, to benefit 2 million students and empower many young people to lead and be a positive force of change in the country.”

The 30-year milestone marks not only an occasion of celebration for Unilever, but also a fresh beginning for a deeper, more responsible, and more enduring partnership with Việt Nam. With the spirit and goal “Because Việt Nam is Home”, the company reaffirms its long-term commitment to stand alongside the Government, communities, and partners in building a greener, healthier, and more prosperous Việt Nam for the future.-VNS