'Gen Z Diplomacy': Bringing Vietnamese Identity to the World
WVR - On August 14, The World & Vietnam Report, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Faculty of International Relations, Academy of Journalism and Communication, organized the seminar “Gen Z and Diplomacy – Bridging Generations, Promoting the Image of Vietnam”.
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| ‘Gen Z’ Diplomacy: The seminar was held in the spirit of Party General Secretary To Lam’s call on the pivotal role of youth in helping the nation stride confidently into a new era. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Attending the seminar at Building A1, Academy of Journalism and Communication were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Oanh, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, Academy of Journalism and Communication; Ms. Hoang Diem Hanh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The World & Vietnam Report; and Dr. Vu Tuan Anh, Dean of the Faculty of Communication and External Culture, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
Also present were Dr. Nguyen Dong Anh, Member of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with representatives of various Ministry units, journalists, lecturers and a large number of students from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the Academy of Journalism and Communication and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
The main speakers were Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines and Brazil; Mr. Le Minh, officer at the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delegate to the 2024 World Youth Festival in Russia; Than Tran Bao Ngoc, Vietnamese youth delegate participating in the Global UGRAD exchange scholarship in the United States, ECOSOC Youth Forum at the United Nations Headquarters, ASEAN-Japan Student Conference in Japan, among others; and Nguyen Quynh Anh, recipient of the Central-level “Five Good Student” title and the 2024 January Star Award, representing Vietnamese youth at the ASEAN Youth Dialogue within the framework of the 2025 ASEAN Summit.
The seminar was held in the spirit of Party General Secretary To Lam’s call for young people to serve as a pillar in guiding the nation confidently into a new era, as well as in line with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son’s emphasis on showcasing the contributions of young diplomats. It was also part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam’s diplomatic service (August 28, 1945 – August 28, 2025).
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| Ms. Hoang Diem Hanh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The World & Vietnam Report, emphasized the significance of the seminar in bringing diplomacy closer to Gen Z. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In her opening speech, Ms. Hoang Diem Hanh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The World & Vietnam Report noted that compared with Gen Y and earlier generations, Gen Z has many differences. No generation has asked so many questions or carried so many expectations as Gen Z does today.
Thus, centering on the theme of diplomacy, the seminar was an occasion to jointly “question” the responsibilities of Gen Z in serving as a bridge between Vietnam and the world. The organizers placed their hopes in the carefully selected speakers to convey a shared belief in Gen Z’s potential to act as a bridge between generations and project Vietnam’s image to the world.
Taking place in the historic month of August, the seminar was also one of the activities celebrating the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector. The event marked a “strategic handshake” between the Faculty of International Relations, Academy of Journalism and Communication, and The World & Vietnam Report. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding four years ago, and today’s event served as a testament to the principle that agreements are meant to be acted upon, delivering tangible benefits for both sides.
Defining a “Gen Z Diplomat”
Speaking at the seminar, former Ambassador to the Philippines and Brazil Nguyen Thac Dinh stressed that Vietnam aims to build a comprehensive, modern diplomacy in which the diplomatic corps masters digital technology to serve their work, in line with the government’s shift toward digital transformation. Effectively harnessing digital achievements will improve the efficiency of diplomacy and strengthen national branding.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Thac Dinh emphasized that Gen Z has the potential to become future diplomats, armed with the vital asset of rapid access to digital technology. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In this context, Gen Z has the potential to become future diplomats with the key asset of rapid access to science, technology and digital tools. Universities are increasingly incorporating digital techniques into teaching, enabling Gen Z to better spread and promote Vietnam’s image worldwide, helping other nations better understand the country, its culture and people.
As a visiting lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy, the ambassador affirmed that “alongside technological capabilities, Gen Z must cultivate political mettle, firm ideological stance, always prioritize national interests and adopt a global mindset in promoting Vietnam while preserving its national identity”.
Highlighting cultural diplomacy as one of Vietnam’s diplomatic pillars, Ambassador Dinh urged young people to actively promote cultural diplomacy steeped in national identity, seek common ground between Vietnamese culture and others, foster empathy as well as project friendliness and hospitality.
They should also learn and absorb the cultural essence of the world so that in conversations with international friends, they can discuss shared interests while spreading their own culture and appreciating others’ values. This forms a fundamental bridge between nations and peoples, with people-to-people diplomacy being a major driver.
According to Mr. Le Minh, officer at the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, earlier generations of diplomats were passionate, tireless in their work, undaunted by hardship, despite complex global situation and increasing workloads. They seized opportunities amid challenges, making the most of every moment to prove their abilities and achieve proud accomplishments.
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| Mr. Le Minh, officer at the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that Gen Z is a special generation, equipped with skills to accompany the nation in its new era of development. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Compared to their predecessors, today’s “Gen Z diplomats” enjoy several advantages. First and foremost is living in peacetime, providing a stable foundation to develop themselves and hone diverse skills, especially foreign languages.
Born into the digital age, Gen Z is well-equipped with digital skills, adapts quickly to new contexts, and processes information with care and objectivity. However, they also face their own challenges, such as a diminished ability to concentrate deeply, shaped by the habit of rapidly consuming information on social media.
To become well-rounded diplomats, Mr. Le Minh advised that Gen Z focus on three key factors. First is foreign languages – the bridge for expressing viewpoints and listening to international perspectives. Second is cultural understanding, with openness to differences and tact to avoid alienation. Third is confidence, which is built from inner values, courage to express opinions, and readiness to address global issues alongside the international community, with thorough preparation to ensure their voice carries weight.
“Above all, they must inherit and build on the legacy of earlier generations, uphold national pride, and always put national interests first. Gen Z is a special generation, fully equipped to accompany the nation in its new era of development”, Mr. Le Minh concluded.
Dare to Think, Dare to Speak, Dare to Dialogue
Nguyen Quynh Anh, Vietnam’s youth representative at the ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2025 and the 2024 World Youth Festival in Russia, believed that the rapidly changing world brings both opportunities and an overwhelming flow of information.
In this context, Gen Z must develop the ability to process, analyze information and respond flexibly to broaden global thinking while preserving Vietnamese identity in international dialogue. Global citizenship mindset means respecting and understanding differences in culture, politics, religion, and viewpoints. Working in multinational groups requires listening, open-mindedness, refraining from imposing one’s own perspectives and receiving feedback with humility.
Recalling her experience at the ASEAN Youth Dialogue 2025, she shared: “When discussing education, healthcare, and technology, our group included members from Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore—each with different backgrounds and starting points, so perspectives differed. However, no one judged right or wrong; instead, we asked questions to understand, empathize and broaden each other’s views, allowing for more multi-dimensional understanding. Listening to and absorbing diverse viewpoints is key; global thinking is not only in the mind but also in daring to think, speak and dialogue over differences with international friends”.
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| Nguyen Quynh Anh believes that “going global” requires a solid anchor, which is identity. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
For Quynh Anh, “going global” requires a firm anchor, which is identity. She expressed pride in being born in Vietnam, a country small in size but rich in identity and resilience. Identity is found not only in ao dai or bronze drums but also in the mother tongue, customs, and traditional festivals—the values that make Vietnam unique. This anchor empowers youth to confidently go far and spread Vietnam’s story with the world.
Having participated in numerous international youth exchange activities in ASEAN, the US, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia, Than Tran Bao Ngoc has gained valuable experience for the journey ahead, particularly the lesson of “knowing others, knowing yourself”.
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| Than Tran Bao Ngoc values the lesson of “knowing others, knowing yourself”. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
“Knowing others” comes from engaging in discussions on socio-economic issues with friends from around the world at international forums. Unlike knowledge gained in classrooms, real-world experience offers fresh insights and deepens one’s worldview.
“Knowing yourself” means understanding your culture and history when stepping onto the global stage as an ambassador representing Vietnamese youth, so as to confidently respond to unexpected questions. These two words deepen the love for one’s homeland and national pride. Going global is also about returning home to contribute to building a stronger, more beautiful country.
A highlight of the 2.5-hour seminar was the lively interaction between speakers and Gen Z students. Topics included “When Gen Z Does Diplomacy”, “Gen Z – Global Thinking, Preserving the Vietnamese Spirit, Flying to the World”, “Why Study Diplomacy?” along with tech-themed games like finding keywords about Gen Z and voting for Gen Z’s No. 1 skill. Also featured were heartfelt shares from delegates about their work experiences, lessons to avoid disillusionment, and ways to build Gen Z resilience in a changing world.
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| Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Oanh, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, Academy of Journalism and Communication, praised the significance of the seminar. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
In closing, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Oanh, Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, Academy of Journalism and Communication congratulated on the program’s success, recognizing the valuable career-oriented insights and answers provided by the speakers regarding foreign affairs and communication for students.
He also expressed gratitude for the collaboration with The World & Vietnam Report and hoped to continue and expand this “bridge” of cooperation, using knowledge and close relations to organize more similar programs, creating diverse exchange opportunities, and broadening young people’s horizons.
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| The World & Vietnam Report and the Faculty of International Relations at the Academy of Journalism and Communication present gifts to the seminar’s speakers. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The seminar “Gen Z and Diplomacy – Bridging Generations, Promoting the Image of Vietnam” affirmed the growing importance of youth, especially Gen Z, in cultural diplomacy and national branding. Insights from different perspectives showed that Gen Z not only has advantages in technology, foreign languages and adaptability to global trends but also possesses creativity, initiative and readiness to integrate.
The cooperation between The World & Vietnam Report, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Faculty of International Relations, Academy of Journalism and Communication, created a practical forum connecting diplomats, experts, lecturers, and students, enhancing awareness, skills, and the aspiration to contribute among youth.
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| A group photo of participants at the seminar. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The results of the seminar go beyond inspiration, paving the way for long-term cooperation between foreign affairs media and educational institutions, maximizing Gen Z’s potential and building a team of young “ambassadors” to spread the image of a friendly, dynamic, and creative Vietnam to the world.
