Fostering long-standing relations between Viet Nam and Bulgaria

The visit takes place as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations — a milestone in the history of bilateral ties. It reaffirms the consistent policy of the Party and State of Viet Nam, which attaches great importance to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Bulgaria, and reflects the determination of both sides to advance Viet Nam–Bulgaria relations to new heights for the benefit of their peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

The 75-year journey has been marked by profound friendship and remarkable achievements in cooperation between Viet Nam and Bulgaria. As a European nation, Bulgaria stood shoulder to shoulder with Viet Nam during the difficult years of resistance as well as in the process of national reconstruction and development.

Thousands of Vietnamese scientists, experts, and skilled workers have received training in Bulgaria, bringing back valuable knowledge that has contributed to Viet Nam’s national construction. Vietnamese human resources, in turn, made significant contributions to the construction of Bulgaria’s infrastructure projects, leaving tangible evidence of the enduring friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries.

Bulgaria was among the first nations in the world to recognise and officially establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. The deep and sincere affection and mutual respect between the two peoples have served as a solid foundation for nurturing bilateral ties over the past seven decades. President Ho Chi Minh’s official friendship visitto Bulgaria in August 1957 laid the groundwork and remains a historic milestone in the relationship between the two nations.

Today, both sides continue to maintain regular exchanges of high-level visits, providing strong impetus for elevating the traditional friendship and cooperation to new levels. The two countries also regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms and support each other at international forums such as the United Nations, the ASEAN–EU Strategic Partnership framework, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Viet Nam and Bulgaria are making steady progress on the path of cooperation. Bilateral economic cooperation has grown dynamically, with trade volume between the two nations increasing consistently over the past decade. In 2024, two-way trade reached 263 million USD, up 24.4% from 2023. In the first half of 2025 alone, bilateral trade stood at nearly 110 million USD. Bulgaria currently has 14 investment projects in Viet Nam with total registered capital of 35 million USD.

Cooperation between the two countries in education and training, science and technology, security and defence, and culture has also been strengthened and yielded fruitful results. In education and training, Viet Nam and Bulgaria have signed a cooperation programme for the 2025–2028 period and are exploring ways to expand collaboration in Bulgaria’s areas of strength such as information technology, cybersecurity, e-government and public administration. In security and defence, the two sides cooperate in military academy training, security personnel exchange, and the sharing of information related to law offenders and illegal migration.

The Vietnamese community in Bulgaria, numbering around 1,200, remains united and deeply connected to their homeland, making active contributions to local socio-economic development and earning high appreciation from Bulgarian authorities. They serve as a steadfast “bridge of friendship” between the two nations. The Vietnamese Association in Bulgaria has been working closely with the Vietnamese Embassy to organise community activities, keeping the patriotic spirit alive among overseas Vietnamese.

The official visit to Bulgaria by General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation sends a strong message of both countries’ determination to elevate Viet Nam–Bulgaria relations to a new level. May the visit be a resounding success, creating fresh momentum to further deepen the bilateral cooperation and continue the 75-year tradition of enduring friendship and partnership between the two nations.

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