Vietnam's pace and scale of development are extremely impressive.

Since arriving here last summer, the Irish Ambassador to Vietnam, Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, has been impressed by the dynamism and energy of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam's success in widely sharing the benefits of social development and poverty reduction is truly remarkable...

Ambassador Deirdre Ní Fhallúin speaking at the Gaelic Athletics Association (GAA) Asian Junior Championships in Hanoi, November 2023. (Source: Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam)

Vietnam and Ireland established diplomatic relations in 1996. According to the Ambassador, what are the positive highlights in the relationship between the two countries over the past nearly three decades?

I believe that our shared historical perspectives and similarities in the development trajectories of our two countries have strengthened our warm and friendly bilateral relationship. Since the Irish Embassy in Hanoi opened in 2005, we have focused strongly on supporting Vietnam's development, and this remains a core part of our mission's work.

At the same time, as Vietnam approaches upper-middle income status and plays an increasingly active role in international affairs, our relationship is developing a more strategically focused approach. The State visit of Irish President Michael D. Higgins to Vietnam in 2016 marked a new milestone in our bilateral relations. I hope that a visit to Ireland by the President of Vietnam can take place during my term as Ambassador.

What are the Ambassador's impressions of Vietnam's recent economic and social development?

Vietnam's pace and scale of development are incredibly impressive. Since arriving here last summer, I've been struck by the dynamism and energy of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam's success in widely sharing the benefits of social development and poverty reduction is truly remarkable.

Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe for much of the 20th century, and we have experienced rapid, transformative economic growth in recent decades, bolstered by successful education policies. I see similar opportunities for Vietnam, with its ambitious and talented young population.

As Ambassador, I am delighted to have met with a number of Vietnamese alumni from Irish universities, and it is clear that young people are the driving force behind Vietnam's continued success in the years to come.

The Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has been in effect for over three years (since August 2020), bringing positive impacts on trade cooperation between the two sides. How do you assess the effectiveness of the Agreement on import and export between the two countries?

Bilateral trade is an area where the Embassy will focus more strongly in the coming years. The historic EVFTA agreement offers enormous potential for our trade in goods and services; however, this potential has not yet been fully realized in the case of Ireland.

My top priority as Ambassador is to enhance the level of engagement and support for Irish companies and businesses to see trade and production opportunities with Vietnam. I expect to see growth in the coming period, particularly in the food and beverage sector, as Ireland is known as a reputable producer of sustainable, high-quality products ranging from dairy and beef to seafood and whisky.

What advice does the Ambassador have for Vietnamese businesses wishing to invest and do business in Ireland in particular and the EU in general?

Ireland is one of the world's leading countries in attracting foreign direct investment and is home to many major corporations in the pharmaceutical, medical technology, information technology, and financial services sectors. We have the youngest population in the EU and the highest per capita rate of STEM graduates in the bloc. These strengths ensure Ireland's ability to recover and rebound strongly from the pandemic and from unprecedented global upheaval and turmoil.

A stable, business-friendly environment has been maintained through successive governments. Even with the implementation of global minimum taxes, we will continue to be a competitive and attractive location for international investment.

Every aspect of Ireland's competitiveness and attractiveness is bolstered by our membership in the EU and the Eurozone, giving us access to a market of 500 million consumers who play a central role in setting global standards for the world's high-growth industries.

Ambassador, could you share more about the Irish-funded development assistance projects in various localities of Vietnam over the past period?

As the relationship between the two countries continues to develop in line with Vietnam's approach to becoming an upper-middle-income country, Ireland remains a committed partner, with the core objective of reaching the furthest behind first. This means that the projects we support are focused on rural communities with high levels of poverty, including ethnic minority communities. We continue to support our partners in humanitarian efforts regarding landmines and promoting good governance.

Furthermore, we place a strong emphasis on higher education and sustainable agricultural products – two areas where, in addition to providing financial support, we believe we can also share expertise with our Vietnamese partners for mutual benefit.

(Source: Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam)

What are Ireland's future cooperation directions and priorities with Vietnam? What plans does the Embassy have to realize these cooperation priorities?

The Irish Embassy in Vietnam's overall priorities for the coming period are outlined in its Mission Strategy 2023-2027 (which includes Cambodia and Laos, for which we have secondary certification from Hanoi). This framework establishes our priorities across interconnected pillars, including bilateral relations, development cooperation, consular services, and engagement with the overseas community.

We also focus on enhancing the visibility and understanding of Ireland in Vietnam through both online and in-person methods. Modern diplomacy requires us to be proficient in communicating with diverse stakeholders and audiences, while continuously seeking innovative ways to share details of our work and activities through public diplomacy.

With Lunar New Year fast approaching, is this the Ambassador's first time celebrating this traditional East Asian New Year?

I became familiar with Lunar New Year and its beautiful traditions from my previous business trip to China. I could feel the excitement spreading throughout Hanoi as people prepared to welcome the Spring.

Just like in Ireland, the holidays are a time for family to celebrate together, and I'm so grateful to be celebrating Tet (Vietnamese New Year) this year with my husband, Paul, and our three children. Entering the new year is also a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future.

We are grateful for this wonderful opportunity to come to Vietnam and look forward to other opportunities to learn more about the country and its people in the future.

What are the Ambassador's and his family's plans for celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024?

The Irish Embassy will be closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, so we'll be spending time together as a family, with our adorable golden retriever Bobbie.

We hope to be able to cycle around West Lake during the off-peak hours and visit Tay Ho Temple on Dang Thai Mai Street. Of course, focusing on Tet cuisine is very important; we will be cooking and making lots of cakes during these holidays.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/toc-do-quy-mo-phat-trien-cua-viet-nam-cuc-ky-an-tuong-261645.html