Keeping Vietnamese Soul in a Foreign Land: The Journey of Fostering Vietnam - Qatar Friendship

Ambassador Nguyen Huy Hiep and delegates cut the cake to celebrate Vietnam's National Day. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar)

There is also a concern: how to bring the image of Vietnam closer to an Islamic Middle Eastern country, where cultural differences are clear and located in a geopolitical region that is always complicated? The answer is only gradually revealed, through each meeting, each event, and above all, through the dedicated presence of the entire Embassy team in Qatar.

Friendship is built by listening and patience.

Qatar, a small but wealthy, dynamic and increasingly influential country, has its own unique characteristics. In such an environment, diplomacy cannot be limited to formal meetings, but requires a deep understanding of local culture and initiative in every interaction, no matter how small.

I clearly remember the first days of my tenure, in the initial series of contacts with Qatari partners, we often chose to start with frank but friendly conversations, instead of elaborate formalities. It was this simplicity and sincerity that helped us gradually build trust - something very important in the Arab communication culture. Meetings with leaders of QatarEnergy, the Investment Authority, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry or large Qatari enterprises all left an impression of a country with a clear strategy, long-term vision and willingness to expand economic cooperation with reliable partners. During the discussions, the other side was particularly interested in Vietnam's role as a potential destination in the global supply chain, as well as a highly skilled and disciplined labor market.

From connecting businesses to accompanying trade promotion delegations and market research, the Embassy has always strived to act as a “soft bridge”, persistently creating a foundation for practical and long-term cooperation. Many Qatari businesses have shared with me that they appreciate the professionalism, flexibility and work ethics of Vietnamese workers – an important advantage that we need to continue to promote.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Qatar Nguyen Huy Hiep.

Spreading Vietnamese soul in the heart of the Gulf

Promoting culture in the Middle East is a challenge, as traditional Vietnamese Eastern values are easily overshadowed by the distinctive Arab color. But the harder it is, the more persistent we are.

On National Day, we dedicated a solemn space to recreate the “Vietnam corner” – with conical hats, ao dai and publications introducing the country, people, tourism and cuisine of Vietnam. Many Qatari and international guests stopped for a long time at this exhibition area, asking interesting questions and expressing surprise and delight at the unique oriental culture of Vietnam.

In addition, the Embassy also actively participates in major fairs and exhibitions in Doha by organizing booths to introduce handicraft products, traditional consumer goods and promotional materials about Vietnam. Images of Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Hue Imperial City or Northwest terraced fields often attract attention and arouse curiosity in viewers, thereby opening up interesting conversations about a hospitable and unique Vietnam.

We understand that, in foreign affairs, sometimes an image or a cultural detail can become a bridge to promote mutual understanding and respect. And it is these “small corners of Vietnam” in the heart of the Gulf that are gradually contributing to creating an image of Vietnam that is close, trustworthy and full of vitality in the eyes of international friends.

When diplomacy goes hand in hand with community

One of the most precious things in Qatar is the Vietnamese community, although small, is very united, hard-working and always looking towards the homeland. There are workers on construction sites, oil and gas engineers and even small families starting businesses in a foreign land.

We always try to be a reliable support, not only in administrative procedures, but also in spiritual life. During Tet, the Embassy opens its doors to celebrate spring, wrap banh chung, sing folk songs together, and talk about home. Someone emotionally said: "This Tet, being able to gather with brothers and sisters, with the national flag, is enough to warm the heart."

When workers encounter difficulties, we not only intervene through consular channels, but also try to connect to support them in integrating and finding a new direction. Perhaps in these seemingly small things, the image of a foreign affairs officer truly appears most clearly.

Ambassador Nguyen Huy Hiep (second from left) with officials, staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and relatives at the opening ceremony of the Hospitality Qatar 2024 exhibition. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar)

Strong friendship in a changing world

The world today is moving rapidly – from energy crises, climate change to global geopolitical competition. In this context, Qatar has emerged as an important mediator, both with its position in the Gas Exporting Countries (GECF) and its role in regional dialogue.

Vietnam and Qatar, though geographically distant, share common foreign policies: peace, cooperation and non-interference. These principles are the foundation for us to not only maintain good relations between our two governments, but also to contribute together to larger multilateral mechanisms.

It is encouraging that recently, many Vietnamese enterprises have begun to look to Qatar as a gateway to the Middle East. And conversely, Qatari investment funds and enterprises are also gradually interested in the Vietnamese market. Our embassy is still persistently “knocking on every door of opportunity”, with a very clear belief: the future of the relationship between the two countries still has a lot of potential.

Closing – but not the end

One late afternoon, after a long meeting, I stood silently before the Vietnamese flag flying in the sky of Doha – in the middle of the vast desert, where the call to prayer echoed with the hot wind. In that strange scene, the red flag with yellow star still appeared proud and familiar. I suddenly realized that it is the simple yet persistent presence of diplomats that is the best way to “preserve the Vietnamese soul” in a foreign land.