France awards Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur to Former Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang
WVR - On the evening of August 26, at the French Embassy in Vietnam, Ambassador Olivier Brochet, on behalf of the President of the French Republic, awarded the Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur to former Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, recognizing his outstanding and enduring contributions over decades in fostering and promoting Vietnam-France relations.
Latest
 |
| Overview of the award ceremony (Photo: Phan Linh). |
The ceremony took place in a solemn and warm atmosphere, attended by representatives of various agencies, organizations, colleagues, family, and many Vietnamese and French friends closely associated with the bilateral relations.
A Professional Diplomat Deeply Connected with France
Mr. Dinh Toan Thang is a professional and experienced diplomat with a long career in the Foreign Service, particularly closely connected with France.
Throughout his career, he has held numerous positions at the Vietnamese Embassy in France, from initial diplomatic roles to the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the French Republic from 2021 to 2025.
His extensive time studying, working, and engaging with France has allowed him to accumulate a deep understanding of the country's people, institutions, politics, economy, culture, and society.
This foundation has provided him with a comprehensive view of the strengths, characteristics, and potential areas of cooperation between the two countries, always dedicating significant effort to seeking new drivers for Vietnam-France relations.
Over many years of service, Mr. Dinh Toan Thang has participated in and promoted bilateral relations in various fields, from political-diplomatic, economic, trade, and investment to education, science, culture, defense-security, energy, health, transportation, local cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
 |
| French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet expressed his respectful appreciation for the career and contributions of Mr. Dinh Toan Thang. (Photo: Phan Linh) |
Speaking at the ceremony, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet expressed his respectful appreciation for the career and contributions of Mr. Dinh Toan Thang.
According to the French Ambassador, awarding the Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur is a recognition of an “outstanding diplomatic career” entirely dedicated to serving the country and opening Vietnam to the world; it also honors a key figure in Vietnam-France relations, to which Mr. Dinh Toan Thang has devoted a significant part of his professional life.
Ambassador Olivier Brochet noted that France and Europe have been a “red thread” throughout Mr. Dinh Toan Thang's career.
Through many tenures in France and various important positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dinh Toan Thang has had the opportunity to study, observe, and work with France over many decades, gaining deep insights into French institutions, political circles, economy, culture, language, and society.
“Building Bridges Between Vietnam, France, and Europe”
According to Ambassador Olivier Brochet, during Mr. Dinh Toan Thang's tenure as Ambassador, Vietnam-France relations witnessed many significant milestones.
These included solidarity and mutual support during the COVID-19 pandemic; regular high-level visits and contacts; and expanded cooperation in various specific fields.
One notable milestone was the elevation of Vietnam-France relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to France in October 2024.
According to the French Ambassador, this decision resulted from a process of rapprochement nurtured by the leaders of both countries and many generations of Vietnamese and French diplomats.
In this process, Mr. Dinh Toan Thang was one of the individuals directly contributing to building and deepening relations based on trust, friendship, and a shared future vision.
Ambassador Olivier Brochet also emphasized Mr. Dinh Toan Thang's clarity, frankness, and ability to seize opportunities in promoting bilateral relations.
These efforts contributed to advancing Vietnam-France relations not only at the high level but also in specific areas of cooperation such as economy, trade, education, science, culture, defense-security, energy, health, transportation, and local cooperation.
Reflecting on Mr. Dinh Toan Thang's entire career, Ambassador Olivier Brochet noted the prominent image of a Vietnamese diplomat who, for over three decades, has tirelessly “built bridges between Vietnam, France, and Europe.”
According to the French Ambassador, these contributions have helped transform Vietnam-France relations from a historically marked relationship into one decisively oriented towards the future, based on the belief that the two countries still have much to build together.
Ambassador Olivier Brochet affirmed that this prestigious award not only honors a great Vietnamese diplomat but also a friend of France.
On behalf of the President of the French Republic, Ambassador Olivier Brochet awarded the Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur to Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, expressing the French Republic's recognition of his outstanding diplomatic career and steadfast contributions in bringing the peoples of the two countries closer together and fostering Vietnam-France friendship.
“Bringing Vietnam and France Closer is a Way to Serve the Country”
In his response speech, former Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang expressed his deep emotion and great honor in receiving the prestigious award from the French State.
He extended his heartfelt gratitude to the leaders of Vietnam and France for their constant attention, guidance, and facilitation of the continuous development of bilateral relations.
The former Ambassador also thanked Ambassador Olivier Brochet, the French Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, generations of Vietnamese and French colleagues, family, and friends who have accompanied and supported him throughout his career.
Reflecting on his career, Mr. Dinh Toan Thang noted that his diplomatic path has been almost entirely intertwined with Vietnam-France relations.
 |
| Former Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang expressed his deep emotion and great honor in receiving the prestigious award from the French State. (Photo: Phan Linh) |
From the early days at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was assigned to the France division of the European Department and had the opportunity to participate in the visit of President François Mitterrand to Vietnam in 1993.
After many tenures at the Vietnamese Embassy in France and various other positions, Mr. Dinh Toan Thang expressed pride in having had the opportunity to contribute to over three decades of robust development in Vietnam-France relations.
According to the former Ambassador, one of the things he is most proud of is that Vietnam and France never settle for merely sharing a history but always aspire to become long-term partners.
This aspiration towards the future creates a unique feature in the bilateral relationship.
For Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, promoting Vietnam-France relations is not merely a professional duty.
He shared that, for him, contributing to bringing Vietnam and France closer is one of the ways to serve the country and fulfill the common mission of diplomats.
Former Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang dedicated the honor of the Légion d'honneur to his Vietnamese and French colleagues and friends who have accompanied him in contributing to the bilateral relationship over the years.
He also expressed confidence in the next generations, especially young diplomats from both countries, to continue advancing Vietnam-France relations further, deeper, and more substantively.
This is also the continuation of a journey that many generations of Vietnamese and French diplomats have nurtured together – from healing historical marks to building trust, expanding cooperation, and creating new foundations for future bilateral relations.
Concluding his speech, former Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang affirmed that the moment of receiving the Légion d'honneur will always be etched in his memory, while expressing deep gratitude and enduring friendship towards his French friends.
The Most Prestigious National Award of the French Republic
 |
| Légion d'honneur (Photo: Phan Linh) |
The Légion d'honneur was established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802 and is the most prestigious national award of the French Republic.
The Légion d'honneur consists of three ranks: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), and Commandeur (Commander), with two higher honors: Grand officier (Grand Officer) and Grand'croix (Grand Cross).
Among these, Commandeur is the highest rank of the three in the Légion d'honneur.
The awarding of the Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur to former Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang is thus not only a recognition of individual contributions over a long diplomatic journey but also a symbolic gesture for the persistent efforts of generations in nurturing the friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and France.
