Tazeen Akhtar
Mr. and Mrs. Pham Anh Tuan, Ambassador of Vietnam to Pakistan hosted a grand reception on the auspicious occasion of the Lunar New Year of HORSE 2026 at the residence in Islamabad to celebrate the festivities, prosperity and happiness for all Vietnamese people with Pakistani friends.
Lunar New Year – Tet, is always very special and spiritually sacred for Vietnamese people. This is an opportunity for children who have gone far away to return and go home, to reunite in the love of family, homeland, and joyfully welcome the Lunar New Year. Many Vietnamese who are serving their country abroad and who cannot return turn their hearts to their ancestral homeland, to the Tet with deep and sacred emotions.
According to the traditions of the ancestors, Tet is an opportunity to respectfully report to Heaven and Earth, to Ancestors about the past year, repair and clean up the house, and leave behind old and negative things, open your heart to prepare to welcome a new year with new energies, new hopes for a good future, and all prosperity.
Ambassador and the staff of the embassy, dressed in traditional colorful outfits, welcomed , members of the Vietnamese community who are living, studying, working, and doing business in Pakistan, together with close friends of the Embassy from Pakistanis and international community including ASEAN members and other diplomats serving in Islamabad.
H.E extended best wishes to all , members of the Vietnamese community in Pakistan, and families for good health, happiness, peace, prosperity, success in all endeavors, and fulfillment in all aspects of life.
Sharing the achievements and accomplishments , Vietnam secured over the past year, Ambassador said , ” Macroeconomic stability has been maintained; national defense, security, and sovereignty have continued to be firmly safeguarded; social welfare has been ensured; and the living standards of our people have steadily improved. Notably, Viet Nam’s position and prestige on the international stage have continued to rise.”
“Viet Nam remains a bright spot of growth in the region and the world, with economic growth exceeding 8%, the highest level in more than 15 years. Viet Nam ranks among the world’s top 15 destinations for foreign direct investment, attracting nearly USD 40 billion in FDI; total import–export turnover has surpassed USD 900 billion; GDP has exceeded USD 500 billion; and GDP per capita has risen above USD 5,000, marking Viet Nam’s official entry into the group of upper-middle-income countries, he noted.
Ambassador said, These achievements reflect the tremendous efforts of the entire Party, the entire people, and the entire armed forces in advancing renewal, reform, and deep international integration, thereby laying a solid foundation for the country to enter a new stage of development.
“Together with the great success of the 14th National Congress of the Party held recently, it can be said that our country is undergoing a strong transformation across many fields, creating a firm foundation to step into a new era of development – the era of Viet Nam’s rise, as affirmed by General Secretary Tô Lâm, Ambassador continued.
On Vietnam Pakistan relations, H.E Pham Anh Tuan spoke highly as , ” The friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Pakistan have continued to be promoted in an active and substantive manner. The year 2025 witnessed notable progress in bilateral economic and trade cooperation, with two-way trade reaching nearly USD 900 million and moving toward the target of USD 1 billion in 2026.”
Ambassadir referred to the visit by the Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam in October 2025, during which, the two countries officially launched negotiations on the Viet Nam–Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement (VPFTA). To date, the parties have conducted several rounds of technical exchanges and are making every effort to conclude and sign the Agreement in 2026.
The signing of the FTA will create more favorable conditions for businesses of both countries by reducing tariffs on many strategic products, lowering business costs, enhancing competitiveness, and opening up new opportunities for cooperation. This is not only a matter for state agencies, but also brings tangible benefits to our enterprises and to members of the Vietnamese community who are doing business and living in Pakistan.
Ambassador briefed the guests on the Embassy’s efforts in past year to carry out various activities to promote friendship and cooperation between our two countries; to work closely with relevant ministries, agencies, and local authorities of Pakistan; to coordinate the organization of conferences and seminars on trade and investment promotion; and to further promote Vietnamese culture through programs introducing the áo dài, Vietnamese cuisine, and traditional cultural values.
An important milestone was the opening of Viet Nam’s first Honorary Consulate Office in Lahore, which has contributed to more effective support for trade promotion and citizen protection, as well as to strengthening connections with the Vietnamese community in Pakistan.
Although the Vietnamese community in Pakistan is small and geographically dispersed, mainly in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, it has always remained united, diligent, respectful of local laws, and committed to preserving Vietnamese cultural identity. We deeply appreciate and highly value the companionship, support, and active participation of the community in the Embassy’s activities over the past year.
Ambassador shared with pride, ” For the first time, outstanding overseas Vietnamese representatives participated in the “Xuân Quê Hương” program, and the Embassy hopes that in the near future we will be able to establish the Viet Nam Association in Pakistan, in order to further strengthen community bonds and provide better mutual support in life and work.”
“In 2026, the Embassy will continue to implement a wide range of political, economic, and cultural activities; promote exchanges of delegations at all levels; and expand people-to-people exchanges and tourism between our two countries. We sincerely hope to continue receiving the active participation and support of the community. The Embassy will always remain a shared home and a strong bridge, accompanying the community in all activities, H.E emphasized.
Concluding his remarks, the Ambassador said, “A new spring is arriving in our homeland and in the hearts of every Vietnamese. Although many difficulties and challenges remain ahead, the potential and opportunities for development of our country, as well as of Viet Nam–Pakistan relations, are truly immense.”
He was confident that with solidarity and mutual affection, the Vietnamese community in Pakistan will continue to support one another, strive to move forward in life, and contribute to preserving and promoting the fine image of the Vietnamese people and culture in the eyes of our Pakistani friends.
According to media report published in Pakistan, The Vietnam’s tourism industry is seeing strong early-year momentum ahead of the Tt (Lunar New Year) holiday in mid-February this year, as a nine-day break announced well in advance encourages domestic travellers to plan earlier and drives robust demand for both domestic and outbound tours. Around three weeks before the Lunar New Year, domestic travel demand picked up sharply, according to search data from online booking platforms and social media.
