Ho Chi Minh City (VNA) - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) held a ceremony on March 2 to mark the 148th anniversary of the Liberation Day of Bulgaria (March 3) and the 76th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
In her address, President of the municipal Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association Hoang Thai Lan expressed delight at the strong and positive trajectory of bilateral ties across diplomacy, education, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. She noted encouraging gains in economic links, with two-way trade showing steady expansion in recent years.
Sharing historical similarities, Vietnam and Bulgaria have fostered a steadfast and loyal friendship over the past 76 years, sustained by successive generations of leaders and citizens. In October 2025, the relationship was upgraded to a “Strategic Partnership”, making Bulgaria the first country in the Balkan region to reach such a level with Vietnam. Ties continue to advance robustly in politics and diplomacy, economy, trade, and education and culture, demonstrating sustainable collaboration in the global arena and contributing to worldwide peace, prosperity, and development, she said.
On the occasion, Lan conveyed her sincere appreciation to the Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam and the Bulgarian Embassy’s staff for their active support and close coordination with the municipal association in exchange and joint events between the city’s residents and Bulgaria, for the sake of friendship, solidarity, and joint development.
In his congratulatory message, Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Pavlin Todorov affirmed that the event clearly reflects the enduring and growing Bulgaria–Vietnam relationship, bolstered not only through official channels but also vibrant ties grounded in trust and long-standing friendship.
He recalled that the establishment of the Strategic Partnership ushered in a new phase, providing a clear framework for future development. In this process, friendship associations play a particularly important role in delivering practical and humanitarian value to bilateral agreements.
Bulgaria attaches importance to its friendship with Vietnam and the efforts of those contributing to mutual development, he said, believing that the municipal association will remain a positive and inspiring force to nurture the bonds between people of both countries./.
