Running from January 3 to 30, the course is taught by Vietnamese instructors with advisory support from Canadian trainers. Participants include international trainees from Vietnam and partner countries under the Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP), namely Bangladesh, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The program also includes officers from the Lao People’s Army, invited by Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence.

At the opening ceremony, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping, said that throughout more than 11 years of preparing and deploying forces for United Nations peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has consistently received strong and valuable support from Canada and the United Nations, particularly in training and capacity building.

Bilateral defence cooperation between Vietnam and Canada in UN peacekeeping has continued to develop in a practical and effective manner in recent years, and the current course serves as another concrete example of that partnership.

According to Pham Manh Thang, UNSOC 2026 carries special significance as it is the first advanced international training course independently organized by Vietnam to undergo direct assessment by the Integrated Training Service of the UN Department of Peace Operations. The evaluation will serve as a basis for reporting, recommendations and certification of UNSOC courses conducted by the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations as meeting UN standards.

The course aims to equip officers of the Vietnam People’s Army, the Lao People’s Army and partner countries under the MTCP framework with the professional knowledge and skills required to effectively perform UN staff officer duties at UN peacekeeping missions.

The program is also expected to further strengthen the reputation, standing, and professional and organizational capacity of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping in hosting advanced international training courses, develop a pool of high-quality instructors, and strengthen practical cooperation and friendship among Vietnam, Laos, Canada and international partners in UN peacekeeping.

Pham Manh Thang said he was confident that, on the foundation of strong cooperation and thorough preparation, together with the highest level of effort from organizers, instructors, coordinators and trainees, UNSOC 2026 would be successfully delivered and recognized by the United Nations as meeting required standards.

Canada’s Ambassador to Vietnam James Nickel said UNSOC 2026 demonstrates the increasingly substantive and reliable partnership between Canada and Vietnam in contributing jointly to international peace and security. He thanked the Vietnam People’s Army, in particular the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, for close and effective coordination in organizing the course.

Applauding Vietnam’s strong sense of responsibility and professionalism, Nickel said that since the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on peacekeeping cooperation in 2023, Vietnam has played a more prominent role by hosting a series of Canada-supported training programs, reaffirming its credibility and standing in regional peacekeeping training in line with UN priorities.

He added that Canada is proud to have accompanied Vietnam throughout the development and validation of UNSOC 2026, and said Vietnam’s full ownership of a UN-recognized training program represents an important institutional achievement, clearly showing the country’s capacity and long-term commitment to multilateral cooperation.

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