Ireland's relationship with Vietnam
Ireland’s partnership with Vietnam is grounded in decades of development cooperation, people-to people links and cultural and political exchange.
Development and beyond
Ireland is proud to have developed a reputation as a principled and reliable development partner for Vietnam.
We work together with Vietnamese partners to reduce poverty among ethnic minority communities, sharing the experience of Ireland’s development through institutional partnerships, supporting mine clearance and risk education, and providing assistance in early childhood nutrition.
Bilateral links
As Vietnam continues its impressive economic growth, Ireland is supporting its university sector through exchange and partnerships with Irish institutions, as well as building capacity and expertise in the agri-food sector. Ireland also works with Vietnamese partners to improve citizen participation and participative policy-making, including by enhancing the participation of women.
Since the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement in 2020, Ireland envisages further growth in trade and investment links with Vietnam in the coming years.
People-to-people connections
There is a growing, vibrant and thriving Irish community in Vietnam, mainly concentrated in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where three successful GAA (Gaelic Games) clubs act as important focal points for the community.
Many Irish people have travelled to Vietnam to teach English, helping to create people-to-people links between our two countries and raising Ireland’s visibility among local communities. Vietnam is also a popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia for Irish people.
Ireland’s affinity diaspora in Vietnam includes individuals and institutions who value their social, sporting, cultural, and business associations with Ireland. Recipients of scholarships to study in Ireland through the Ireland Fellows Programme return to Vietnam with lifelong connections to the country.
Shared challenges and opportunities
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, noted on his State Visit to Vietnam in 2016 that despite being geographically distant, our two countries have shared similar challenges and opportunities: "Ireland's national journey and the journey of Vietnam are ones that chime: in your recollections we hear echoes of our own path".
In the coming years, the connections created by Ireland’s development programme and the Irish and affinity diaspora will continue to deepen political, economic and cultural links between Ireland and Vietnam.