Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Chung Ui-hwa met with students from the Ho Chi Minh University of Social Sciences and Humanities (HCM-USSH) on March 20.

Chung said cultural and historical similarities form the foundation for Vietnam and the RoK to develop close ties, particularly among the younger generations.

Statistically, nearly 130,000 Koreans are living in Vietnam with an equivalent 120,000 Vietnamese in the RoK. A number of marriages are couples of Vietnamese and Koreans, strengthening the bonds between the two nations.

Congratulating Vietnam on the 40th anniversary of the southern liberation and national reunification (April 30), Chung said Vietnam boasts a bright young population, potential for national development.

In education, 13 Vietnamese universities and colleges offer Korean studies, and the RoK has four universities with Vietnamese faculty.

The HCM-USSH is seen as the top provider of Korean education in Vietnam, teaching over 2,000 students in the past two decades.-VNA