80 years of Vietnamese diplomacy: 'Old trees' shading 'green shoots'

On the sidelines of the 80th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Sector (August 28, 1945 - August 28, 2025) and receiving the First Class Labor Medal on the morning of August 25, The World and Vietnam Newspaper had the opportunity to talk with the "big names" in the Sector and listen to the sharing from the previous generation about the journey of doing foreign affairs work based on the principle of "being constant, responding to all changes".

Grateful for the footsteps that came before

After nearly 40 years working in the diplomatic sector, the most profound memory for Mr. Nguyen Sy Xung, former Deputy Director of the Academy of International Relations (now the Diplomatic Academy), former Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Turkey, is the opportunity to work and learn from previous generations of officials.

He shared that his seniors in the industry passed on to him not only valuable experience in foreign affairs, but also countless lessons to become a diplomatic officer who meets the requirements and aspirations of the country through each period.

Ambassador Nguyen Sy Xung emphasized that "adapting to the unchanging and adapting to all changes" is a consistent principle that needs to be instilled in the thinking and actions of every generation of foreign affairs officials. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

“In nearly 40 years of work, I have always strived to promote those lessons. Today, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the sector, those values ​​continue to be summarized and affirmed. I believe that this will forever be a valuable asset, encouraging the generations of diplomatic officers today and tomorrow to fulfill their mission of serving the nation and the people,” the veteran diplomat emphasized.

The former Vietnamese Ambassador to Turkey also recalled the "very unique" style of Vietnamese diplomacy, which many generations of leaders have summarized from the lesson of President Ho Chi Minh : "With the unchanging, respond to all changes". According to him, this is a consistent principle that needs to be imbued in the thinking and actions of all generations of foreign affairs officials.

In particular, as a former teacher at 69 Chua Lang School, Ambassador Nguyen Sy Xung also sent a message to the young generation: "A diplomatic officer must first of all constantly study and train himself in all areas from ethics, style to intelligence, to always be ready to shoulder well the assigned tasks."

Young people are the vanguard

During nearly 40 years of working on the silent front, Mr. Nguyen Thac Dinh, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil, witnessed many important events of the country. However, the most memorable memory in the Ambassador's heart is associated with a special day exactly 30 years ago - the moment Vietnam officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At that time, Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh was assigned the important responsibility of being Chargé d’Affaires, participating in the establishment of the Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and preparing to welcome the Vietnamese Foreign Minister's delegation. He recalled that during the flag-raising ceremony to welcome Vietnam as an ASEAN member that year, the moment the red flag with a yellow star was slowly raised in the square in Brunei Darussalam, blending with the heroic melody of the National Anthem, was a sacred moment that the veteran diplomat will remember forever.

“The sky that day was clear blue, the red flag with yellow star fluttered proudly next to the flags of other ASEAN countries. It was truly the most profound memory of my diplomatic career,” he shared emotionally.

In addition, according to Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh, joining ASEAN is not only a milestone in regional integration, but also opens the door for Vietnam to participate deeply in the international community. After this event, Vietnam quickly established relations with many organizations and countries around the world, creating a solid foundation for the process of innovation and development.

Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh believes that in the digital age, the young generation is the vanguard force to realize the goal of building a comprehensive and modern diplomacy. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Like Ambassador Nguyen Sy Xung, speaking about the "unique qualities" that make up Vietnam's diplomatic style, Ambassador Dinh affirmed that it is what President Ho Chi Minh concluded: "With the unchanging, adapt to all changes ". That spirit has been applied by generations of diplomats throughout the past 80 years, from the years of resistance to the current period of innovation and integration. "We have been and are implementing the spirit that Uncle Ho taught: Upholding principles, steadfastly maintaining national independence, but always being flexible and skillful to adapt to all changes".

The clearest evidence, according to him, is that today Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries, including 13 comprehensive strategic partners. That is the result of the diplomatic mettle of “steadfastness and flexibility” - an unmistakable identity.

Affectionately called "national teacher" by generations of diplomacy students, Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh said: "In the digital age, the young generation is the pioneering force to realize the goal of building a comprehensive and modern diplomacy". To do that, young diplomats need to possess three factors: steadfast political will, steadfast revolutionary ideology and the ability to master foreign languages ​​and digital technology.

“Only when fully trained in ethics, intelligence and skills can each young cadre become a modern, comprehensive diplomat, capable of shouldering the mission of serving the Fatherland and people in the new era,” the Ambassador affirmed.

The silent warriors

As for Ambassador Luan Thuy Duong, in her diplomatic journey, the most profound impression on her was the time she held the position of Vietnamese Ambassador to Myanmar. During those years, the Ambassador was always aware of the responsibility of a diplomat: Promoting Vietnam's relations with other countries to become increasingly sustainable and effective, thereby contributing to the development of the country.

Taking on a mission in a country with a complicated political situation and bilateral relations that "still have many issues to resolve", Ambassador Luan Thuy Duong always determined for herself the spirit of serving the Fatherland and the diplomatic sector. With constant efforts, the staff of the Embassy has contributed to maintaining the Vietnam-Myanmar relationship in a friendly atmosphere, thereby promoting the two countries to achieve the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership. In that spirit, economic cooperation as well as other fields between the two countries have made significant progress.

From practical experience, the female Ambassador further understood the core principle that President Ho Chi Minh left for Vietnamese diplomacy: "With the unchangeable, adapt to all changes". According to her, the "unchangeable" is the supreme interest of the nation, independence, national sovereignty - inviolable principles that any diplomat must protect. But to do so, each diplomatic officer needs to have courage, acumen and the ability to flexibly adapt to each specific context. Along with that, another extremely important principle is knowing how to combine national strength with the strength of the times. Only when both of these factors converge can comprehensive strength be promoted in international relations.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Myanmar Luan Thuy Duong gives advice to young diplomats. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Today, as the nation enters a new era, an era of growth, Ambassador Luan Thuy Duong believes that every diplomat, whether retired or working, and especially the younger generation, must remember two things:

First , we must join hands to build a comprehensive, professional and modern diplomacy. “Comprehensive” is not only the close coordination between Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, but also the harmonious combination between national strength and the strength of the times in all fields. “Modernity” requires each diplomat to constantly cultivate knowledge, practice temperament, style, courage and flexibility to meet the new requirements of the times. Only then will we be able to overcome challenges and take advantage of valuable opportunities.

Second , referring to the documentary “From the source to the ocean” broadcast at the Commemoration Ceremony on the morning of August 25, the Ambassador affirmed that our country has “stepped out into the ocean”. Therefore, young people, in addition to cultivating their knowledge, courage and character, must also remember that the Diplomatic sector has a particularly important role: They are “silent warriors” - pioneers who keep the country developing in peace, stability and prosperity.

Through the heartfelt sharing of three veteran diplomats, it can be seen that the 80-year journey of Vietnamese diplomacy is written with countless historical milestones and stories imbued with the spirit of dedicated service. That is also the diplomatic style that carries the "uniqueness" of Vietnam: Firmly upholding national interests, combining national strength with the strength of the times. And on the journey ahead, the message that the Ambassadors convey is always full of weight: Building a comprehensive, professional, modern diplomacy, so that diplomacy continues to be the vanguard, contributing to helping the country rise strongly in the international arena.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/80-nam-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-nhung-co-thu-che-mat-mam-xanh-325689.html