On the occasion of Vietnam’s 50th National Reunification Day, Diplomatist Magazine spoke to Mr. Le Quang Bien, Consul General of Vietnam in Mumbai. In this conversation, Mr. Bien reflects on the significance of this milestone, marking five decades since the historic victory of April 30, 1975, which ushered in an era of unity, peace, and national resurgence. Mr. Bien also highlights Vietnam’s remarkable socio-economic progress, growing diplomatic influence, and its aspirations for the future. In the context of Vietnam-India relations, Mr. Bien underscores the deep-rooted friendship and the expanding Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, emphasizing the shared vision of peace, stability, and prosperity.
As Vietnam celebrates 50 years of national reunification, how would you describe the significance of this milestone for the country and the people of Vietnam?
Fifty years ago, Vietnam’s 1975 Spring General Offensive and Uprising, culminating in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, achieved a complete victory over US imperialists. April 30, 1975 has entered the history of the Vietnamese nation as a brilliant milestone that brought our country into a new era, an era of unity, peace, independence, freedom, and the building of socialism.
For the Vietnamese nation and people, April 30 has great historical significance, demonstrating national pride, revolutionary enthusiasm, solidarity, and the desire for peace and happiness of the Vietnamese people. It was the moment that ended more than a century of war, dividing the country. It was the day peace spread throughout the country; the North and the South of Vietnam reunited in the joy of national reunification.
The April 30, 1975 victory not only helped Vietnam unify its territory but also opened a new page in history for the Vietnamese people to rebuild the country from the ashes of war. Over the past 50 years, Vietnam has gradually revived from a heavily war-torn country to a rapidly growing economy, a peaceful, stable country with increasing prestige in the international arena.
April 30th, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of our national reunification, an opportunity for Vietnam to look back on its 50-year development journey and prepare to enter a new era with a strategic vision and great aspirations for the nation.
In your opinion, what historical lessons from the war are still alive and valuable for Vietnam today?
The war has been over for half a century, but looking back at the glorious history of the nation, we are more aware of the importance of the lessons learned in the past struggle for national independence and liberation to apply to the cause of building and defending our country today. In my opinion, there are three most important lessons, as follows:
Firstly, on the foundation of the tradition that has been forged into the identity of the nation over thousands of years, the Communist Party and the State of Vietnam always clearly identify that independence and autonomy in policies and guidelines are the decisive factors for all victories of the Vietnamese revolution.
Secondly, in all circumstances, combining national strength with the power of the times and closely combining the diplomacy-defense-security fronts is the premise for our nation to use the weak to overcome the strong and use the few to resist the many.
Third, along with the principle of firmly upholding national interests, skillful and harmonious behavior with major countries, building friendly relations, comprehensive cooperation with neighboring countries and seeking the sympathy and support of international friends have always been very important parts of Vietnam’s foreign policy.
In the past, we have successfully implemented the above factors to overcome numerous difficulties to win. Today, these lessons may continue to be applied in our country’s development and international integration.
You mentioned Vietnamese diplomacy in important lessons, so could you elaborate on the role of Vietnamese diplomacy in this historic victory? And how has Vietnam’s foreign policy been from then until now?
During Vietnam’s two resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism, Vietnamese diplomacy played an important role in combining national strength and the strength of the times to create a synergy for the Vietnamese people to achieve final victory.
Diplomacy became an important front, always standing side by side with the military at the front line, making it a strategic and significant component in the Vietnamese revolutionary guideline.
Vietnamese diplomacy raised high the flag of peace, national independence and goodwill as a bridge with the world’s peace-loving people, thereby gathering a broad international front to support our people’s struggle. Millions of peace-loving people around the world, from leaders and politicians to people and students, even in war-monger countries, have taken to the streets to protest against the Vietnam War and support the justice struggle of the Vietnamese people.
Along with military victories on the battlefield, Vietnamese diplomacy during this period brought into play its intelligence and mettle to make milestones in the nation’s history with the Geneva Accord of 1954 and the Paris Accord of 1973, creating favorable conditions for our nation to achieve the historic victory in the spring of 1975, liberating the South and unifying the country.
In general, from the early days of the revolutionary government to the resistance war against colonialism and imperialism, liberating the South and unifying the country, Vietnamese diplomacy has always accompanied the nation, served the fatherland, served the people, and made an important contribution to the glorious victories in the heroic history of the nation.
In the cause of building and defending the country today, Vietnam has always adhered to its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversifying and multilateralizing relations while actively and responsibly contributing to the common issues of the international community.
Could you tell us what outstanding and notable achievements Vietnam has achieved after 50 years of national reunification?
Over the past 50 years, Vietnam has significantly improved its position and power in the international arena. Initially a small, poor country, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with over 190 countries and territories, building strategic partnerships with 30 countries, including 12 comprehensive strategic partnerships. This has strengthened Vietnam’s international position, promoting cooperation and peace in the region and the world.
Vietnam has also actively contributed to the construction and shaping of multilateral institutions, becoming a reliable member of the United Nations and numerous regional and international organizations. Vietnam has trade relations with 224 partners and over 500 international organizations and participated in 17 free trade agreements.
In terms of socio-economic development, Vietnam has consistently achieved high economic growth rates since 1986, maintaining an average growth rate of 6-7% per year. In 2024, Vietnam’s economy reached about 476.3 billion USD, with a GDP per capita of 4,700 USD. This growth has significantly expanded Vietnam’s economic scale and position.
On the journey of renovation and international integration, Vietnam has achieved great and comprehensive achievements, raising the country’s position and strength to new heights. The above outstanding achievements have contributed to attracting large resources for the country’s socio-economic development, maintaining peace and stability, and maintaining national security, becoming a reliable partner of the international community. This is an important premise for Vietnam to continue to innovate and develop, bringing the country into a new era, an era of National Rise.
Could you tell us how the India-Vietnam relationship has developed over the past 50 years? And what are you looking forward to in the relationship between the two countries in the coming time?
India and Vietnam have shared a long-standing, close relationship in both history and civilization. Over the decades, despite the complex fluctuations of the regional and world situation, the India-Vietnam relationship has always maintained a sustainable friendship and kept growing well.
In fact, India and Vietnam established official diplomatic relations in 1972, so it has been more than 50 years so far. The two countries are looking forward to the important milestone of celebrating 10 years of establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026 and 55 years of establishing diplomatic relations in 2027.
Over the past more than 50 years, India has always been one of the most trusted partners, regularly expressing support for Vietnam’s development path and policies in many regional and international forums. The relationship between the two countries has been developing well in many areas, notably defense and security, economy, trade and investment, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges, etc.
Since 2016, the two countries have upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in the current hierarchy of diplomatic partnerships in Vietnam, meaning that the two sides have determined to attach long-term interests, support each other and promote extensive and comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual benefit on the basis of mutual trust.
In addition, Vietnam is considered as a pillar in the Indian Act East policy, an important partner of India in the Indo-Pacific Initiative and in ASEAN.
The state visit to India by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh last August opened a new page in the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two sides agreed to adopt a Joint Statement on Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the “5 more” orientation: Higher political-strategic trust; Deeper defense-security cooperation; More substantive and effective economic, trade and investment cooperation; More open cooperation in science and technology, innovation; Closer cultural, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
I believe that, along with the political determination of the leaders and the willpower and aspirations of the people of the two countries, the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India will increasingly develop strongly, deeply and effectively, contributing to building and consolidating stability, peace and development in the region and the world.
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