Azerbaijan and Vietnam are connected by friendly relations dating back more than half a century. The two countries are building sustainable and mutually beneficial relations based on common interests. These relations, founded by the National Leaders of peoples, Heydar Aliyev and Ho Chi Minh, have been strengthened and further developed by Azerbaijanis who have lived and worked in Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese students educated in Azerbaijan.

The elevation of these relations to the level of strategic partnership as a result of the historic meetings of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during his state visit to Azerbaijan in May 2025 has given a special impetus to historical relations and set new tasks for each institution.

In this process, the role of Azerbaijanis living in Vietnam, as worthy successors of their predecessors, is of particular importance. Their social activism and commitment to the values of friendship further strengthen the bridges between the two countries.

Fuad Muradov Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora met with Azerbaijanis in Hanoi, within the framework of his visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The event went down in history as the first large-scale meeting held with Azerbaijanis living in Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese who previously studied in Baku.

Prior to the meeting, a bouquet of flowers was laid in front of the bust of the prominent statesman Heydar Aliyev, located in the building of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Vietnam, and his dear memory was honoured with deep respect. The event commenced with the playing of the National Anthems of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The dear memory of our heroic martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the Motherland, was also commemorated with profound reverence.

In his speech, Shovgi Mehdizada, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia noted the existence of sincere friendly relations based on historical roots between the two countries. Detailed information was provided about the role of the national leaders in establishing and developing historical relations between our peoples, and it was emphasized that the leaders of both countries are currently developing these relations successfully.

The Ambassador said that the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, which unites alumni of Azerbaijani higher education institutions, established in Hanoi in 2015. He provided information about its active work and accomplishments to date. He recalled the visit of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association members to Azerbaijan in 2024, jointly organized by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Embassy—noting the guests' participation in several meetings in Baku and their visit to the city of Shusha. The Ambassador pointed out that although the number of Azerbaijanis living in Vietnam is not large, they actively participate in all events organized by the Embassy.

The Ambassador highly appreciated the visit of Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora to Vietnam. He stated that this historic step marks a new stage of cooperation in the field of diaspora activities.

Cordially greeting the participants, Committee Chairman emphasized that Azerbaijanis living across the world are always surrounded by the attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev. He spoke about the services of First Vice-President and President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, in conveying the Azerbaijani truths to the world, preserving national values, and informing our compatriots living abroad.

It was highlighted that ties with the Vietnamese educated in Azerbaijan continue to this day, and that visits to Azerbaijan are regularly organized for them. Gratitude was also expressed to our compatriots for their contributions to the further strengthening of humanitarian and social ties between the two countries.

Detailed information was provided on the long-term projects and programs implemented by our state to strengthen the unity of the world's Azerbaijanis, including the Azerbaijan Houses abroad, Coordination Councils, weekend Azerbaijani schools, specialized forums, cultural events, and the successfully ongoing process of networking and community building among our compatriots.

The event featured video materials showcasing the historic speeches of the President of Azerbaijan, and patriotic-themed video clips were screened.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman and Honorary Chairman of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, as well as members of the association who had previously educated in Azerbaijan, all of whom expressed their positive impressions of the meeting. In his speech, Nghiem Vu Khai, the Honorary Chairman of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Friendship Association, expressed his profound love for Azerbaijan. It should be noted that, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2017, Nghiem Vu Khai was awarded the "Taraggi" (Progress) Medal for his services in developing friendship and cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The meeting, which took place in an interactive and productive atmosphere, featured an exchange of views on future prospects. The issues raised by the participants were carefully addressed, and comprehensive answers were provided to their questions.

Our compatriots, expressing great interest in the Committee's projects, noted that the majority of Azerbaijanis living in Vietnam teach English there. They voiced proposals for strengthening ties between the two countries, particularly in the fields of education, culture, and cuisine, as well as organizing a teachers' forum in Vietnam. The participants expressed their gratitude to the Azerbaijani state for the care shown to the community in Vietnam.

The meeting with the Azerbaijani community in Vietnam concluded with an artistic part. The performances of Azerbaijani songs by master artists, as well as by Vietnamese individuals who had studied in Baku, added a special vibrancy to the event and were met with prolonged applause.

It should be noted that in recent years, the State Committee on Work with Diaspora has been holding regular meetings with Azerbaijanis living in various countries, providing support for compatriots’ activities.