The First Vietnam-Russia People's Diplomacy Forum was held in Hanoi to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

From September 30 to October 4, Hanoi hosted the First Vietnam-Russia People's Diplomacy Forum, which brought together representatives of state bodies, science, business, culture, and public organizations from both countries. The Russian delegation included Mikhail Cherepanov, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the VII IMBRICS Forum.

The program featured a wide range of events – business and cultural meetings, negotiations with Vietnamese political and business leaders, with national information structures, and with representatives of public organizations – an important element for building humanitarian and cultural ties, plenary and breakout sessions, daily evening receptions, as well as familiarization visits to sites significant to Vietnamese partners, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The opening ceremony welcomed guests with speeches by Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations, and Evgeny Grigoriev, Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov addressed the participants via a video message.

Mikhail Cherepanov held a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. The central topic of the talks was the discussion of opportunities for cooperation within the framework of the VII International Municipal BRICS Forum, which will be held in St. Petersburg on November 20-21. The dialogue took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere; the parties emphasized the importance of engaging Vietnamese partners in the Forum's work to develop interregional ties, promote joint initiatives in the field of sustainable territorial development, and deepen humanitarian contacts between Russia, Vietnam, and the BRICS countries. During the business mission, meetings were also held with a member of the Politburo, Comrade Do Van Chien, and representatives of central and regional government bodies of Vietnam.

One day of the forum featured a large-scale B2B meeting of representatives of St. Petersburg and Vietnamese businesses. The event was attended by about 100 people. Nguyen Hong Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Promotion of Consumer Goods, emphasized that close business contacts are a "strong bridge of trust" between the countries.
During his working trip, Mikhail Cherepanov met with the leadership of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA). During the meeting, preliminary agreements were reached on cooperation in covering the events of the International Municipal BRICS Forum through VNA representative offices in various countries.

The Russian delegation also visited the Tropical Center – a joint Russian-Vietnamese scientific and technological institution – and met with the leadership of the Vietnam Women's Union, where projects in education, culture, and support for women's entrepreneurship were discussed. During a meeting with the head of the Vietnam Cultural Industry Association, the parties discussed prospects for implementing joint initiatives. The program concluded with the participation of the Russian delegation in events introducing guests to the rich heritage of Vietnamese culture.

"Following the business mission, a number of practical agreements were reached. We have received confirmation from the delegation of representatives from Vietnamese business communities – as well as representatives of regional and central government bodies of Vietnam – to visit St. Petersburg for business negotiations and working meetings at the venue of the VII International Municipal BRICS Forum this November. Preliminary partnership agreements have been reached with several commercial companies for the preparation and support of the event in 2026. Should the negotiations yield positive results, the relevant organizations are ready to become strategic partners of the 2026 forum and attract major Vietnamese corporations to organize a large-scale exhibition at our venue," concluded Mikhail Cherepanov.

The event was productive – many business meetings were held, promising contacts were established, and a high level of interest from Vietnam in developing cooperation with Russian businesses and those of the interstate association was noted. The results obtained will form the basis for further consistent work and preparation for the November event in St. Petersburg.