In her opening remarks, Minister Lâm Thị Phương Thanh affirmed: Viet Nam always values its strategic partnership with Italy and appreciates the support and close cooperation of His Excellency the Ambassador and the Italian Embassy in promoting people-to-people exchanges thru cultural, sports, and tourism fields. After more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations (March 23, 1973) and over a decade of implementing the Strategic Partnership framework (since January 2013), the two countries have built an effective and enduring model of bilateral cooperation.
Cultural diplomacy is one of the brightest highlights, playing the role of a "bridge" bringing the two nations closer together. The Minister emphasized: Italy is a country with a splendid and long-standing cultural and artistic heritage, possessing valuable experience in developing tourism linked to heritage preservation. The similarity in valuing traditional values serves as a launchpad for vibrant artistic exchange programs.
Looking back on the journey so far, the cultural cooperation mindset between the two countries has been institutionalized rigorously. On the basis of the cultural cooperation agreement signed in 1990, the two sides have continuously implemented action programs in phases, the most recent being the Cultural Cooperation Program for the period 2023–2026. The pinnacle of this bond is the series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023. The special concert at the Italian Presidential Palace, attended by President Sergio Mattarella and the President of Vietnam, has become a historic milestone, demonstrating the deep respect and understanding between the two countries.
At the working session, Minister Lâm Thị Phương Thanh and Ambassador Marco Del Seta reviewed the groundbreaking achievements over the past period.
Regarding Tourism: The year 2025 marked a significant milestone as Viet Nam welcomed over 107,000 Italian tourists, making the boot-shaped country the fourth-largest source of tourists from Europe to Viet Nam. This remarkable growth comes from strategic decisions such as the visa exemption policy with a stay duration of up to 45 days (which Viet Nam will apply to Italian citizens starting from March 2025). In addition, Vietnam Airlines will officially open a direct flight connecting Hanoi and Milan in July 2025. The combination of a flexible mechanism and favorable transportation infrastructure has maximized the flow of travelers between the two countries.
In the field of Culture and Arts: In addition to over 70 diverse and innovative cultural activities supported by the Italian Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamese culture and arts have also continuously made a beautiful impression in the host country. At the Far East Film Festival held in Udine (Italy) in May 2026, the film "Địa đạo" by director Bùi Thạc Chuyên excellently won two important awards: "Best Screenplay" and "Audience Choice." Especially, Viet Nam's official presence for the first time at the 61st Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition (held from May to November 2026) with an outstanding art booth marked a significant step forward for contemporary Vietnamese art to reach the global stage.
Regarding Sports and Libraries: Although sports cooperation still has some specific limitations, such as the fact that top Italian football clubs are mostly privately owned, making it difficult to organize direct exchange matches in Viet Nam, both sides have still found common ground. In 2023, Viet Nam proudly became the only Southeast Asian country selected to participate in the media campaign for the legendary Ryder Cup 2023 golf tournament held in Italy. In the field of libraries, the delegation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism visiting Italy in November 2025 to study management and digital transformation has opened a new, practical chapter for the library sectors of both countries. With the policy that culture is an endogenous resource, an important "soft power" to drive rapid and sustainable economic growth, Minister Lâm Thị Phương Thanh has proposed strategic solutions and cooperation for the upcoming period. Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism fully supports and proposes close cooperation with the Italian Embassy to promptly complete negotiations and sign the agreement to establish a cultural center, replacing the memorandum from 2013. The upgrade of Casa Italia to "Casa Italia – Italian Cultural Institute in Hanoi" will provide a solid legal basis for Vietnam to soon establish a Vietnamese Cultural Center in Rome.
Along with that, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also encourages leading Italian exhibition and event organizing companies to collaborate with units of the Ministry, such as VEFAC (Vietnam Exhibition Center), in order to bring major Italian event brands in fashion, creative design, cuisine, and tourism to the Vietnamese market.
In addition, the two sides are jointly studying the establishment of a film co-production agreement, creating a favorable mechanism for filmmakers from both countries. At the same time, it was proposed that Italy continue to share experiences and send experts to support Viet Nam in the preservation and restoration of cultural heritage and the development of a national brand.
Additionally, the Minister also emphasized using tourism as a pillar to promote sports: Accordingly, the Minister proposed that the other party facilitate the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Viet Nam National Tourism Authority and the Italian National Tourism Agency (ENIT), along with simplifying visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens. From the tourism platform, the two sides will enhance in-depth sports cooperation, inviting Italian experts and coaches to support strong sports such as football, basketball, and fencing to elevate Viet Nam's status in ASIAD and Olympic arenas.
In response to the Minister, Ambassador Marco Della Seta congratulated Minister Lâm Thị Phương Thanh on her new position and expressed strong agreement with the strategic directions the Minister had outlined. The Ambassador affirmed: Italy greatly admires Viet Nam's rich cuisine and culture, and is committed to making every effort to fulfilll its commitments, deepening the cooperative relationship.
The meeting and working session of Minister Lâm Thị Phương Thanh with the Italian Ambassador today will mark the first steps toward a deeper and stronger phase of connection. At a time when the development of culture and the cultural industry is receiving the most synchronized and decisive attention from the Party and the State, the harmony in thot and action between Viet Nam and Italy promises to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, making substantial contributions to the prosperity and development of both Viet Nam and Italy.
Huyen Trang