Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phạm Việt Hùng speaks at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo Đỗ Sinh

BANGKOK — People-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation have played a vital role in strengthening the relations between Việt Nam and Thailand, heard an academic seminar held at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok on Friday.

The event formed part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and brought together Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phạm Việt Hùng, Thai scholars and lecturers, and students at Chulalongkorn University.

Hùng, in his keynote address on the future of Thailand–Việt Nam relations after five decades of diplomatic ties, highlighted the important role of universities in preserving the two countries' shared historical legacy and shaping the future of bilateral cooperation through education, research and people-to-people exchanges.

He noted that Thailand occupies a unique place in Việt Nam's modern history as the only Southeast Asian country where President Hồ Chí Minh lived and carried out revolutionary activities. During his stay in Thailand in 1928–29 under the name Thầu Chín, the late Vietnamese leader earned the respect and affection of both the Vietnamese community and many Thai people. Today, memorial sites dedicated to him in Nakhon Phanom, Udon Thani and Phichit continue to symbolise the enduring friendship and mutual respect between the two nations.

The ambassador said these historical and cultural bonds continue to resonate today. Thai culture has become increasingly familiar to Vietnamese people, while Việt Nam's traditional culture and tourism are attracting growing interest among Thai visitors. Last year alone, more than 1.1 million Vietnamese and Thai tourists visited each other's countries, reflecting the steadily expanding connections between the two societies.

He also highlighted the contributions of the more than 100,000-strong Vietnamese community in Thailand, which has long served as an invaluable bridge of friendship by preserving Vietnamese cultural identity and actively contributing to Thailand's socio-economic development. At the local level, around 20 sister-city and sister-province partnerships have further expanded cooperation in education, culture, tourism and business.

Emphasising that strong people-to-people ties provide the vitality and resilience of bilateral relations, the Vietnamese diplomat proposed expanding student and faculty exchanges, joint research and partnerships between universities, and promoting Thai and Vietnamese languages in respective countries. He also called for stronger tourism cooperation, youth exchanges and enhanced connectivity between local communities, alongside preserving shared historical heritage, including President Hồ Chí Minh memorial sites in Thailand, for future generations.

The seminar also featured presentations on Việt Nam's socio-economic development and its new development era, as well as a panel discussion on Vietnamese language teaching in Thailand involving scholars from leading universities, including Chulalongkorn, Chiang Mai, Thammasat, Ramkhamhaeng and Udon Thani Rajabhat.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency reporters in Thailand, Assistant Professor Dr. Morragotwong Phumplab of Thammasat University described people-to-people ties as the cornerstone of bilateral relations, saying the Vietnamese language brings the two peoples closer.

Once regarded simply as the language of a neighbouring country, Vietnamese is now increasingly recognised in Thailand as a strategic language, reflecting the rapidly growing partnership between the two Southeast Asian nations. Today, Vietnamese is taught at many universities across Thailand, helping deepen cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between the two peoples. — VNA/VNS