This year, the VUFO will focus on diplomatic activities such as the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia People Friendship Meeting, the Vietnam-China People Forum, the first Vietnam-China People Friendship Festival and activities in response to the Vietnam-China Friendship Year 2010. 

The union will pay attention to consolidating its relations with mass organisations of ASEAN countries and strategic partners. It will map out specific plans to effectively implement activities celebrating the country’s festivals and speed up the implementation of a national programme on promoting foreign non-governmental aid for poverty reduction and socio-economic development. 

In 2009, many friendship activities with neighbouring countries were organised, particularly a welcome to a Chinese delegation of former advisors and war veterans, a friendship festival between Vietnamese and Chinese border people in Fangcheng city of China’s Guangxi province and Mong Cai of Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province. 

Friendship exchanges with Laos and Cambodia were also enhanced at both central and local levels. 

In 2009, the VUFO presented the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia to 112 foreign organisations and individuals and asked the State to grant friendship orders and medals to one organisation and three individuals overseas for their great contributions to the country. 

According to the union, around US$250 million in foreign non-governmental aid was disbursed in 2009 through 2,500 programmes and projects in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide. 
The union raised US$8.2 million from 24 non-governmental organizations in support of flood victims in Central and Central Highland provinces.