Hungarian journalist explains the strength and attraction of Vietnam

From Budapest, Hungary, journalist Dunai Péter shared with TG&VN his impression of Vietnam's continuous development, stemming from the spirit of cooperation and timely, correct development policies.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son welcomed Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Peter Szijjártó on March 19. (Photo: Hai Minh)

Attending the ceremony to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Hungary diplomatic relations (February 3, 1950 - February 3, 2025) and the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025) held on the evening of April 29 in Budapest, I deeply felt the development of Vietnam today.

Step by step

In the early 1980s, I spent nearly four years as a correspondent for the People's Freedom (Népszabadság) daily newspaper and the Hungarian News Agency (MTI) in Vietnam. Vietnam - a resilient nation that has fought for nearly a century for independence, freedom, to protect the Fatherland, and against invaders.

However, the Vietnamese people do not hold grudges forever but are willing to expand cooperation in the spirit of closing the past and looking towards the future. France and the US have both become important trade partners of Vietnam, a country that is operating a socialist-oriented market economy model.

I am also impressed with the Vietnamese in Hungary, they all have a comfortable life now, but that is the result of a very persistent labor process. Vietnamese clothing, shoe and food stores contribute to enriching the choices for Hungarian consumers, meeting the needs of clothing and living, and this brings benefits to both sides.

Vietnam’s population has now surpassed 100 million. Its economic growth rate is among the fastest in the world , with GDP growing by more than 7% last year. One of the key factors that makes up the country’s strength is its efficient manufacturing industry. In addition, Vietnam is focusing on developing high-tech products such as electronic chips.

For example, Intel has built the largest assembly, packaging and testing complex outside the United States in Vietnam (APT). Amkor Group (headquartered in Arizona, USA) has invested more than 1.5 billion USD in a microchip factory in Bac Ninh province, which will start operating this year.

Economic consultancy Oxford Economics forecasts that foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Vietnam will continue to increase this year, even faster than GDP growth. According to the source, the trend of order growth is expected to spread to other key export sectors such as machinery manufacturing, household electrical appliances, textiles and agriculture.

Ambassador Bui Le Thai presented the honored guests with a special magazine published by the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary in collaboration with Eurasia Magazine to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary)

At the solemn celebration held at the Vigadó Theater in Budapest, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai shared a remarkable fact: While Hungary's trade turnover in the first quarter of 2025 decreased due to difficulties from major partners in Europe (especially Germany), bilateral turnover with Vietnam increased by more than 10%, reaching 194 million USD.

What is particularly positive is that cooperation is expanding into new areas. Vietnam has expressed its desire to purchase a squadron of L-39NG multirole trainer aircraft produced by the Aero Vodochody plant (in Brno, Czech Republic, now owned by Hungary).

According to Czech sources, the first aircraft have been delivered to Vietnam.

New vision from Vietnam's leaders

I am very impressed with the new vision of Vietnam's leaders for national development. Recently, Vietnam's top leader, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, has given very clear directions for the future.

In the article celebrating the 50th anniversary of national reunification, I was impressed by three messages emphasized by General Secretary To Lam: "We cannot rewrite history, but we can replan the future. The past is to be remembered, to be grateful for and to learn lessons from"; "We cannot let the country fall behind. We cannot let the nation lose opportunities... Therefore, we must put national and ethnic interests above all else"; "National reconciliation does not mean forgetting history or erasing differences, but accepting different perspectives in a spirit of tolerance and respect, to work together towards a greater goal: building a peaceful, unified, powerful, civilized and prosperous Vietnam".

Hungarian journalist Dunai Péter (far left) talks with the Vietnamese community in Hungary. (Photo: NVCC)

Strategic partnership between close friends

Seventy-five years ago, Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize Vietnam. When the Southeast Asian country was still in the midst of war, Budapest's stance always revolved around the slogan: "Veled Vagyunk, Vietnám" - "We are with you, Vietnam".

That message became history when on April 30, 1975, exactly half a century ago, Vietnam was completely unified. The image of a T-55 tank of the Liberation Army crashing through the gate of the Independence Palace in Saigon became a historical symbol.

Since then, the relationship between Vietnam and Hungary has been marked by increasingly expanding cooperation in politics, economics and many other fields. In recent times, many Vietnamese students have graduated in nuclear engineering in Hungary and this number will increase as Vietnam expands its nuclear power program. In addition, I also expect that the two countries will promote cooperation in the defense industry.

Hungary's current policy towards Vietnam is aimed at expanding strategic cooperation, for example in the field of nuclear energy or the development of the defense industry. Last March, in Hanoi, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Péter Szijjártó had important talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nha-bao-hungary-ly-giai-suc-manh-va-suc-hut-cua-viet-nam-313424.html