The event featured the participation of more than 500 delegates representing ministries, government agencies, local authorities, diplomatic missions, international organizations, foreign NGOs, and the business community.

Opening the conference, Phan Anh Son, VUFO President said the forum enabled domestic and international participants, including development cooperation agencies, donors, businesses and civil society groups, to exchange views and explore new cooperation opportunities, particularly in emerging priority areas such as digital transformation, the green and circular economy, climate change response, innovation and human resource development. The shared orientations were expected to help promote Vietnam’s 2026-2030 sustainable development goals.

A notable feature of this year’s conference was the more substantive and proactive engagement of foreign NGOs in both the preparation and organization of the event.

Beyond attending as guests, these organizations directly contributed to drafting content, co-chairing thematic workshops, coordinating exhibitions and carrying out joint communication activities. This inclusive approach shows a spirit of equal partnership and mutual development, marking an important evolution in cooperation between Vietnam and the foreign NGO community.

Following earlier conferences held in 1992, 2003, 2013 and 2019, the fifth conference aimed to review Vietnam-NGO cooperation during the 2019-2025 period, assess the impact and contributions of NGO programs and projects to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, share effective cooperation models between ministries, sectors, localities and foreign NGOs, and summarize practical lessons in the management and use of NGO aid to help outline future orientations and solutions.

According to the report presented at the conference, global uncertainties over the 2020-2025 period created numerous challenges for international relations and affected NGO operations in Vietnam. However, thanks to renewed approaches adopted by ministries, agencies and localities, NGO activities and assistance over the past five years remained steady.

As of Nov. 30, 2025, 379 foreign non-governmental organizations were operating regularly in Vietnam, with total assistance during the 2020-2024 period reaching nearly US$1.14 billion. NGO-supported projects were implemented nationwide, focusing on essential areas including healthcare, socio-economic development, social welfare, education and training, natural resources and environmental management, institutional capacity building, and legal assistance.

Upon addressing the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently supports and facilitates the activities of foreign NGOs to strengthen people-to-people ties with countries worldwide while mobilizing resources for poverty reduction and sustainable development. He noted that cooperation with foreign NGOs remains an important component of Vietnam’s integrated external relations framework, alongside Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.

He said the Vietnamese Government would continue to adopt policies to create favorable conditions for NGO operations and encourage expanded cooperation models linking public, private and social sectors.

The Deputy PM also urged ministries, agencies and localities to renew their mindset and management approaches toward people-centered and community-focused development, proactively seek donor support, streamline administrative procedures, expand the use of digital tools, and place particular emphasis on project sustainability.

At the conference, Le Kim Dung, Country Director of CARE (US) in Vietnam, highly appreciated the cooperation of Vietnamese relevant agencies and expressed hope that the Government would maintain an open policy environment enabling NGOs to operate within trilateral partnership mechanisms to further contribute to Vietnam’s development in the new period.

Nguyen Tuyet Nga, Vietnam Country Director at PATH, reaffirmed PATH’s long-term commitment to accompany Vietnam as a reliable partner supporting the country in achieving its national development targets.

In recent years, the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs, together with relevant ministries, agencies and provincial authorities, has continued to promote a supportive operating environment for NGO activities. Acting as the standing body of the Committee, the VUFO has played a central coordinating role in connecting foreign NGOs with Vietnamese institutions and localities, serving as a regular information channel and cooperation facilitator to support donors and NGOs in establishing strategies, programs and projects in line with Vietnam’s priorities and development needs.

The Committee has also focused on the standardization of administrative procedures, supporting shorter processing times, boosting inter-agency coordination at all levels, providing guidance and monitoring of cooperation activities, and building capacity through training programs for officials engaged in NGO affairs across ministries, sectors, mass organizations, and local administrations to ensure sustainable and effective partnership outcomes.

Foreign NGOs lauded for contributions to socio-economic development

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son lauded contributions of foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to Vietnam’s development in 2023, at a meeting in Hanoi on December 26.