Q: Your excellency, what message does it send that Cambodia is among the first countries visited by General Secretary To Lam and a high-level delegation of the Party and State of Viet Nam immediately after the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam?
A: The State visit to Cambodia by General Secretary To Lam and a high-level delegation of the Party and State of Viet Nam, taking place right after the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, conveys a clear and strong message: the Party, State and people of Viet Nam continue to affirm the importance they attach to the relationship of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability” with Cambodia, considering it a top strategic priority in Viet Nam’s foreign policy.
Choosing Cambodia as one of the first countries to visit immediately after the Party Congress underscores the continuity and further development of the traditional friendship and close-knit solidarity between the two Parties, the two States and the two peoples - relations that have been carefully nurtured by generations of leaders and citizens of both countries.
Built on a high level of mutual trust, the visit demonstrates Viet Nam’s readiness to work with Cambodia in sharing development orientations and promoting new mechanisms of economic cooperation, based on the implementation of the Resolution of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. This will help consolidate strategic trust and advance substantive cooperation across all areas, from politics and diplomacy to defence and security, economic and trade ties, and people-to-people exchanges.
Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex and unpredictable regional and global situation, the visit further affirms that the Viet Nam–Cambodia relationship is a precious asset that continues to be nurtured to deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, while also underscoring their shared commitment to safeguarding regional peace and stability and contributing to the building of a strong ASEAN Community.
This visit also represents a concrete implementation of the foreign policy line set out by the Communist Party of Viet Nam at its 14th National Congress, which identifies diplomacy and international cooperation as “vital and regular” pillars alongside defence and security.
Q: How would you assess the role of Party-to-Party cooperation in the overall Viet Nam–Cambodia relationship in recent years? How might this visit by General Secretary Tô Lâm inject new momentum into areas of cooperation to elevate relations between the two Parties and the two countries to a new level, especially following the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam?
A: Party-to-Party cooperation has always played a foundational role, serving as a guiding compass that orients and steers Viet Nam–Cambodia relations. In recent years, through mechanisms such as high-level meetings between the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party, as well as meetings among the three top leaders of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Cambodian People’s Party, the two sides have been able to promptly share experience in leadership, Party-building and national development, while jointly shaping bilateral cooperation in key areas. These meetings help consolidate political trust and ensure that relations between the two countries develop in a stable, sustainable manner and are able to overcome challenges.
The visit by General Secretary To Lam, together with the high-level delegation of the Party and State of Viet Nam, will generate strong new momentum, particularly following the success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam as the country moves towards a new era of development.
The visit will promote deeper cooperation in areas such as sharing experience in organising and effectively implementing Party resolutions and decisions; strengthening cooperation in defence and security and combating transnational crime; enhancing infrastructure connectivity; cooperation in the digital economy, green economy and energy; and expanding exchanges in culture, education and tourism. At the same time, it will elevate Party-level cooperation mechanisms to a higher level, contributing to bringing relations between the two Parties and the two countries to a new, more substantive and effective height, for the benefit of the peoples of both countries and for peace and prosperity in the region.
Q: What concrete outcomes does the Ambassador expect from General Secretary To Lam’s visit and the high-level meeting among the leaders of the three Parties—the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the Cambodian People’s Party—in Phnom Penh, in terms of strengthening Viet Nam–Cambodia–Lao solidarity and effectively addressing shared challenges amid rapidly changing regional circumstances?
A: I am confident that the visit by General Secretary To Lam, together with the high-level delegation of the Party and State of Viet Nam, and especially the high-level meeting among the three leaders of the Parties of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia in Phnom Penh, will yield concrete and practical outcomes.
First and foremost, the meeting will reaffirm the consistent policy of the three Parties and three countries to accord top priority to the traditional friendship among the Parties, States and peoples of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex and unpredictable regional and global situation, the maintenance of trilateral meetings at the highest level once again underscores each Party’s commitment to preserving and promoting the tradition of special solidarity and close bonds among the three Parties. This serves as a firm foundation for ensuring a peaceful, secure and developmental environment for each country.
Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex and unpredictable regional and global situation, the maintenance of trilateral meetings at the highest level once again underscores each Party’s commitment to preserving and promoting the tradition of special solidarity and close bonds among the three Parties, forming a solid foundation for ensuring peace, security and development for each country.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu
This particularly important political event will help consolidate the pillar of defence and security cooperation, while creating new impetus and paving the way for fresh cooperative agreements on economic connectivity among the three countries, especially in border trade, transport infrastructure connectivity and energy links among the three economies. It will also facilitate the sharing of experience in responding to common challenges such as climate change, cyber security and food security, and enhance coordination in regional and international forums.
The meeting will further promote more regular trilateral dialogue mechanisms and closer coordination in safeguarding national interests, thereby contributing to the building of a region of peace, cooperation and sustainable development. This is a vivid demonstration of the special bond among the three Parties, enabling the three nations to jointly navigate the rapid, complex and unpredictable changes in the region and the world today, and to move together towards a future of peace, stability and prosperity.
Q: Could you share with us the atmosphere of preparations for Tet (Lunar New Year) at the Embassy and among the Vietnamese community in Cambodia? On the occasion of the Lunar New Year of Horse, what wishes would you like to convey to people at home and to Cambodian friends who have consistently supported Viet Nam–Cambodia relations?
A: As Tet approaches and spring arrives, Vietnamese people everywhere welcome the new year with hopes for peace, prosperity and well-being. Vietnamese nationals and people of Vietnamese origin who are working, living and studying in Cambodia are greeting the Lunar New Year of Horse 2026 in a joyful mood, celebrating the resounding success of the 14th National Party Congress and the State visit by General Secretary To Lam and the high-level delegation to Cambodia.
The visit will undoubtedly help strengthen political trust between the senior leaders of the two countries, giving our compatriots greater confidence to strive to overcome difficulties, stabilise their legal status and integrate more effectively into the host society. The visit by the General Secretary and the high-level delegation also serves as an important source of encouragement for Vietnamese businesses to step up investment, business activities and production expansion in this promising market, making a substantive contribution to promoting economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries.
The Embassy’s Homeland Spring 2026 programme will take place on February 8, shortly after the General Secretary’s visit. Vietnamese nationals, people of Vietnamese origin and Cambodian friends alike will be able to enjoy the festive Homeland Spring atmosphere through calligraphy performances and distinctive cultural and artistic performances celebrating spring and praising Viet Nam–Cambodia friendship. These will be presented by artists from Tay Ninh Province, children of Vietnamese origin, and staff of the Embassy. Naturally, traditional Tet delicacies such as banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), gio lua (sausage made of pork and traditionally wrapped in banana leaves) and bamboo shoot soup will also be featured. In particular, the Homeland Spring event will provide an opportunity to strengthen bonds, mutual understanding and sharing, with the participation and exchanges of senior leaders of Cambodia and representatives from Vietnamese localities.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2026, on behalf of all officials and staff of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Cambodia, I would like to extend my sincere wishes of good health, happiness and success to all our compatriots at home as well as Vietnamese people living, working and studying in Cambodia. May every Vietnamese family, wherever they may be, enjoy a warm, joyful and peaceful Tet, and always uphold pride in a nation that is steadily advancing into a new era of strong and prosperous development.
I would also like to express my deep gratitude and best wishes for a prosperous New Year to our Cambodian friends who have always shown close affection and steadfast support for the strong bond between our two peoples. I hope that, building on the firm foundations already in place, 2026 will mark many outstanding achievements in bilateral connectivity, ensuring that the neighbourly friendship between Viet Nam and Cambodia remains enduring, while making positive contributions to peace, stability and shared prosperity within the ASEAN Community.
Thank you very much!
