On October 23, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO), the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City (VAFA), and the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City jointly organized a seminar on culture, people-to-people diplomacy, and the process of building the ASEAN Community towards Vision 2045. The program brought together diplomats, experts, researchers, representatives of friendship organizations, lecturers, postgraduate students, and students, creating a forum to discuss the role of culture and people-to-people diplomacy in building a cohesive, inclusive, and sustainable ASEAN Community.
The seminar was held in the context of ASEAN entering a new development phase, implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, aiming to build a resilient, dynamic, creative, sustainable, and people-centered community. Notably, in Vietnam, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 155/QD-TTg on January 20, 2026, approving the Action Program to implement the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Strategic Plan in Vietnam for the 2026–2035 period.
The decision emphasizes the requirement to raise awareness and promote ASEAN identity, boost cultural and educational exchanges, strengthen connections among the people of member states, and uphold the proactive and creative role of organizations and communities in the regional integration process. This is an important policy basis, affirming the practical significance and timeliness of the seminar, and demonstrating the connection between research, training, international cooperation, and people-to-people diplomacy with Vietnam's long-term development orientations within the ASEAN Community.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ho Xuan Lam – Standing Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations emphasized the role of people-to-people diplomacy in strengthening solidarity, friendship, and understanding between the people of Vietnam and the people of ASEAN countries. In the context of the region moving towards long-term development goals, cultural exchange activities, community connection, and knowledge sharing are increasingly significant, contributing to consolidating the social foundation for cooperative relations between member states.
In his welcoming speech at the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thanh Dinh – Vice President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City highly appreciated the significance of strengthening connections between the university, diplomatic agencies, friendship organizations, and the community. The seminar contributed to expanding the space for knowledge exchange, promoting intercultural understanding, and creating conditions for lecturers, postgraduate students, and students to access experience and perspectives from the reality of ASEAN cooperation.
With the orientation of linking training and scientific research with community service, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities continues to promote the strengths of social sciences and humanities in researching culture, people, and regional development issues. In particular, the Faculty of Oriental Studies plays an active role in academic connection, cultural exchange, and expanding cooperative relations with ASEAN partners.
Opening the professional content, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan – Head of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNUHCM; President of the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City presented a paper titled “Culture and people-to-people diplomacy: Connecting the community, cultivating ASEAN identity”.
From an anthropological and regional studies perspective, the paper affirms that culture is not only an expression of national identity but also an important resource in building trust, promoting understanding, and strengthening cohesion among communities. ASEAN is a space diverse in language, religion, belief, history, and customs, but that very diversity, when viewed with a spirit of respect and dialogue, can become the foundation for a regional identity that is both unified and diverse.
Through practical experiences in cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy activities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan emphasized that sustainable connections do not necessarily start from large-scale programs, but can be formed from meetings, meals, traditional costumes, arts, games, and respect for each other's cultural heritage.
One of the vivid examples shared was the “Tom Breakfast” program held on October 21, 2026, where ASEAN diplomatic representatives experienced Malaysian breakfast culture together. From the familiar Vietnamese banh mi to Malaysian roti canai served with curry, or the image of the Consul General of Malaysia personally introducing the art of making teh tarik, intimate culinary experiences became a means of cultural connection and strengthening friendship.
Notably, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan's choice of a Kebaya outfit at the program also expressed respect for Malaysia's Baba Nyonya cultural heritage. Similarly, in an exchange activity on the occasion of Vietnamese Women's Day, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan and Ms. Carolina Tinangon – Consul General of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City – both wore Vietnamese ao dai made from Indonesian batik fabric, creating an image rich in meaning about the intersection and celebration of each other's culture.
From these examples, the paper affirms that culture is not only present in heritage, festivals, or artistic activities but is also expressed through daily choices, behaviors, and experiences. When communities know how to value each other's cultural values, differences are no longer a distance but become an opportunity for dialogue and connection.
Continuing the program, Ms. Querobine Deapera Laccay – Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City presented a paper on the Philippines and its role as ASEAN Chair in 2026. The paper brought a perspective from a member state on cooperation priorities, common responsibilities, and development prospects of the ASEAN Community in the new phase; contributing to clarifying the role of coordination among nations in maintaining solidarity, promoting cooperation, and strengthening ASEAN's position.
From a complementary perspective, Mr. Firdauz Othman – Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City presented a paper on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, with development orientations towards a resilient, dynamic, sustainable, and people-centered community. Drawing on Malaysia's experience in the ASEAN cooperation process, the paper emphasized the need to strengthen regional connectivity, promote inclusive development, enhance adaptability to new challenges, and ensure that people participate in and benefit from integration achievements.
The perspectives from the Philippines and Malaysia contributed to connecting strategic orientations at the regional level with practical issues in social life, while highlighting the role of diplomatic representative agencies in promoting understanding and cooperation among member states.
A notable highlight of the seminar was the paper by Mr. Danny Vo (Vo Thanh Dang) – Member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, Vice President of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese in Ho Chi Minh City, on the topic of the role of overseas Vietnamese as people-to-people bridges connecting Vietnam with the ASEAN Community.
The paper highlighted the role of the overseas Vietnamese community as subjects connecting culture, knowledge, economy, and social relations between Vietnam and countries in the region. With the ability to adapt in a multicultural environment, the diaspora not only contributes to promoting the image of the country and people of Vietnam but can also promote cooperation initiatives, share experiences, and build cross-border connection networks. Every individual, every overseas Vietnamese community can become a bridge of friendship, contributing to enhancing understanding and cohesion among peoples in ASEAN.
Concluding the series of papers, Mr. Dao Hieu Dong – Co-founder of Co Thuy Tinh Chau presented content on Co Thuy Tinh Chau, from Vietnamese cultural innovation to the ASEAN people-to-people exchange space. Through an interactive cultural creative product, the paper suggested a new approach in combining intellectual games, education, experience, and cultural exchange. Co Thuy Tinh Chau is not only an entertainment activity but also a means to encourage thinking, dialogue, and connection among participants from different cultures.
This initiative shows that people-to-people diplomacy can be implemented through many intimate, creative forms suitable for the young generation, thereby contributing to bringing Vietnamese cultural values into the region's common exchange space.
With five papers approaching from different angles, the seminar created a consistent content thread: from the role of culture and people-to-people diplomacy in building ASEAN identity, to the development orientations of member states, the contribution of the overseas Vietnamese community, and cultural exchange initiatives stemming from real life.
The meeting point among the papers is the recognition that the ASEAN Community is not only built through official cooperation mechanisms but also nurtured from human-to-human relationships, from respect for differences, trust, a spirit of sharing, and joint responsibility for the region's future.
Notably, in the context of implementing the Prime Minister's Decision No. 155/QD-TTg, the seminar contributed to concretizing orientations on raising awareness and ASEAN identity, upholding the role of the community, strengthening cultural exchange, and promoting the participation of the people in the process of building the ASEAN Community. Thereby, people-to-people diplomacy is seen not only as a method to strengthen friendship but also as an important social resource, supplementing cooperation among countries.
For the Faculty of Oriental Studies, the seminar has practical significance in connecting academic knowledge with diplomatic practice, creating opportunities for lecturers, postgraduate students, and students to approach contemporary ASEAN issues through direct exchanges with diplomats, experts, and those participating in community connection activities. This is also a direction of implementation consistent with the orientation of training that links theory with practice, develops intercultural competence, and enhances the social responsibility of learners.
The success of the seminar is the result of coordination, accompaniment, and active support from many agencies, units, and individuals. The Organizing Committee would like to express our gratitude for the attention and favorable conditions provided by the Board of Rectors of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City; the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations; the Vietnam – Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City; and the participation and sharing of diplomatic representative agencies, speakers, experts, researchers, and distinguished delegates.
The Organizing Committee would like to especially thank the companionship of Due Tam Tra Cultural Space (LDT Joint Stock Company), contributing to spreading Vietnamese tea cultural values; PuAura Scented Candles and DIEP TRUONG PHAT TRADING PRODUCTION PROCESSING COMPANY LIMITED, anchay.TV for their interest and support for the program, demonstrating a spirit of social responsibility and the bond between businesses and cultural, academic, and friendship activities.
The Organizing Committee also expresses gratitude to PhD candidate Vo Lap Phuc – Typical Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024, for taking on the role of Master of Ceremonies (MC), contributing to connecting the presentation contents, creating a formal, intimate, and exchange-rich atmosphere for the seminar.
The companionship of businesses, organizations, and individuals not only contributed to the success of the program but also demonstrated the community's spirit of joining hands in promoting cultural exchange, connecting knowledge, and cultivating friendship between the people of Vietnam and the people of ASEAN countries. The Organizing Committee also gratefully acknowledges the enthusiastic contributions of lecturers, staff, postgraduate students, students, and volunteers in the preparation, organization, and communication work for the program.
The seminar concluded but continues to open up opportunities for cooperation, connection, and development of new initiatives among educational institutions, friendship organizations, diplomatic agencies, and the community. From academic exchanges to cultural experiences and practical initiatives, the program contributes to affirming the role of culture and people-to-people diplomacy as sustainable bridges connecting nations, peoples, and generations in the region.
Towards the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, a cohesive and sustainably developing ASEAN needs to be built not only through common strategies and commitments, but also through the proactive, responsible, and creative participation of every citizen. It is from those cultural, knowledge, and friendship bridges that the spirit of “unity in diversity” of ASEAN continues to be nurtured and spread in community life.
Vietnam - ASEAN Cultural Exchange Center
