Viet Nam & New Zealand at 50
The next chapter
To mark 50 years of formal diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Viet Nam, the Foundation has released Viet Nam & New Zealand at 50: The Next Chapter—a report building on research from 2020 that explores the evolving connections between the two nations.
Colonisation and conflict characterised Viet Nam’s experience of the first half of the 20th century before a reunified country emerged in 1975. That year, New Zealand was one of the first nations to establish ties with the new republic. This report updates our 2020 report, Viet Nam & New Zealand: Let’s Go, to celebrate these connections.
Viet Nam & New Zealand at 50: The Next Chapter looks at our history and the people who have brought us together, from early recipients of Colombo Plan scholarships to those collaborating on food technology and fashion.
It also explores the opportunities that an energetic and fast-growing Viet Nam offers young New Zealanders, and what New Zealand can offer young Vietnamese eager to explore, learn, or do business. Finally, the report looks to our shared future and the opportunities to work together in the coming decades.
Viet Nam is now the world’s 16th most populous country, with 54 ethnic groups making up a population of 100 million. An increasingly urban country, 40 percent of Viet Nam’s population now live in the nation’s vibrant cities and towns.
The Viet Nam of 2025 is a mix of captivating natural beauty, urban dynamism, and national optimism. This fast-changing Southeast Asian nation presents many opportunities for New Zealanders.
Download the full report
pdf, 13.59 MB
The Foundation's research programme commissions studies that support informed public conversations about New Zealand’s relationship with Asia. It also supports the next generation of scholars through our postgraduate research grants.
