On Friday, November 7, His Excellency Hà Hoàng Hải, Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Poland and Lithuania, paid an official visit to the Tricity area. During his stay, he was received at Gdańsk City Hall by Piotr Borawski, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk for Mobility and Safety.
The meeting focused on opportunities for collaboration between Gdańsk and Vietnam in the fields of digital transformation, education, culture, and the maritime economy. Ambassador Hà Hoàng Hải also announced Vietnam’s plans to open an Honorary Consulate in Gdańsk, a step that will further strengthen ties between the two nations.
The Ambassador highlighted that Poland is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Central Europe, with bilateral economic relations bolstered by the EU–Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, ratified by Poland earlier this year. The volume of trade between the two countries continues to grow dynamically, with Polish companies such as Adamed Pharma, a pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, and Ziaja, cosmetics company headquartered in Gdańsk, already active on the Vietnamese market and enjoying increasing popularity.
Ambassador Hà Hoàng Hải also emphasized the potential for cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, an area where many Vietnamese specialists with academic backgrounds from Poland play an important role.
Deputy Mayor Borawski pointed out that Vietnam’s young and rapidly developing society presents promising opportunities for joint projects in the digital and IT sectors. “We see Vietnam as a country full of technological energy and innovation. Its growing presence at international tech conferences is very inspiring”, he noted.
Both sides expressed interest in launching a pilot project linking Gdańsk with a Vietnamese partner city – potentially Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s main economic and port hub. Vietnam has been actively developing smart city solutions, supporting technology startups, and promoting digital innovation – a direction confirmed by recent talks between Polish and Vietnamese government representatives.
Ambassador Hà Hoàng Hải, who studied in Poland and speaks fluent Polish, also stressed the importance of academic and educational ties. More than 5,000 Vietnamese citizens have graduated from Polish universities, and their experience continues to contribute to Vietnam’s economic growth. “Poland remains an attractive destination for Asian students, thanks to its high academic standards, welcoming atmosphere, and stable living conditions”, he said.
In the cultural sphere, Ambassador of Vietnam proposed organizing a Vietnamese Culture Day in Gdańsk, following the success of similar events in other Polish cities such as Łódź. The city authorities expressed readiness to cooperate in bringing this idea to life.
The visit and the plan to establish the Honorary Consulate in Gdańsk mark a symbolic step forward in strengthening economic, educational, and cultural relations between Gdańsk and Vietnam.
Photo: Ambassador Hà Hoàng Hải and Piotr Borawski, Deputy Mayor of Gdańsk © Piotr Wittman/gdansk.pl