The journey of Palestinian Ambassador to a land of history, resistance, and hope

General Secretary, President To Lam received Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Shadi Zarqa to present Credentials, on October 3, 2026. (Photo: Dang Khoa)

When the heart embraces a homeland before geography does

For generations of Palestinians, Vietnam was not merely a distant country on a map. Its history lived in our schoolbooks, political discussions, revolutionary literature, and gatherings. The Vietnamese people’s long struggle for independence, sovereignty, and dignity resonated deeply with our own national experience.

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There was, therefore, a certain paradox in the fact that a country that had occupied such a meaningful place in my heart for so long had remained beyond my reach because of the demands and pressures of work.

That changed the moment I arrived in Hanoi. No sooner had I set foot on Vietnamese soil than I found myself captivated by the city. Walking through its streets and enchanting old quarters, one encounters history not as something confined to museums or books, but as something alive - woven into the architecture, the traditions, the rhythm of daily life, and the faces of its people.

Hanoi does not simply tell you its history. It allows you to feel it.

A city that captivates the soul at first glance

Although my time in Vietnam is still relatively short, I have already developed a deep affection for this remarkable country: Its culture, its proud history, its traditions, and, above all, its people.

There is a warmth in Vietnam that is difficult to describe in diplomatic language. It is found in the kindness of ordinary encounters, in the courtesy extended to a stranger, and in the smiles of children, young people, and elderly citizens.

Life, of course, presents challenges everywhere. Vietnam is no exception. Yet there is an unmistakable sense of vitality and optimism among its people—a determination to build, to move forward, and to believe in tomorrow.

Perhaps this is one of the country’s most remarkable qualities: Vietnam carries the memory of its difficult past without allowing that past to prevent it from embracing the future.

It is a country that quietly enters the heart. Before one fully understands how it happened, Vietnam has already become familiar.

A history of struggle worthy of reflection

My growing affection for Vietnam naturally led me to look more deeply into its history.

From the era of Dai Viet, which emerged as a significant independent Vietnamese state in the tenth century, through centuries of resistance and national development, the story of Vietnam is inseparable from the determination of its people to preserve their homeland, identity, and independence.

The Red River Delta, the historical heartland of northern Vietnam, witnessed the rise of communities whose resilience would become a defining feature of Vietnamese history. Across the centuries, farmers, intellectuals, soldiers, and ordinary citizens repeatedly found themselves called upon to defend their land and way of life.

The twentieth century brought some of the most devastating chapters in Vietnam’s modern history. Decades of conflict imposed an enormous human cost, leaving millions dead, wounded, displaced, or otherwise affected by war.

But to the end, the glorious history of Vietnam is not a story of war.

It is a story about perseverance.

It is the story of a people who, despite immense hardship and disparities in military power, continued to defend their vision of national independence. The wars left deep scars, but they also forged a powerful national consciousness and an enduring determination to rebuild.

The Vietnam of today is perhaps the most compelling testament to that determination.

From the ashes of resistance to the light of the future

The Vietnam that emerged from decades of conflict chose not to remain imprisoned by the wounds of history.

Instead, its people turned toward reconstruction, development, education, economic progress, and international engagement. The country gradually transformed itself while preserving a strong sense of national identity.

That transformation is one of the reasons Vietnam today commands such respect.

Its journey demonstrates that a nation can emerge from extraordinary suffering and choose to invest its energy in building peace, prosperity, and opportunity for future generations.

Behind this achievement are the Vietnamese people, their institutions, and their leadership, as well as a long-standing tradition of placing national interests, stability, development, and independence at the center of the country’s political vision.

Vietnam’s experience offers an important lesson to the world: resilience is not simply the ability to survive hardship. It is the ability to transform the experience of hardship into a determination to build something better.

Ambassador Shadi Abuzarqa on the opening ceremony of the World Cultural Festival 2026, October 1. (Photo: Embassy of Palestine in Vietnam)

Vietnam and Palestine: Two peoples, a shared understanding

It is impossible for a Palestinian diplomat to study Vietnam’s modern history without reflecting on Palestine.

The circumstances of our two peoples are not identical, and history must always be understood in its own context. Yet there is a profound human connection in the experience of peoples who have struggled to preserve their identity, defend their homeland, and secure their right to live in freedom and dignity.

For Palestinians, Vietnam’s history has long represented an example of perseverance in the face of overwhelming challenges.

Today, as the Palestinian people endure profound suffering and continue their struggle for freedom, dignity, sovereignty, and their internationally recognized national rights, the solidarity and understanding expressed by the Vietnamese people carry particular meaning.

Vietnam’s support for the Palestinian cause is remembered with gratitude.

For Palestinians, solidarity is never an abstract diplomatic word. It is a moral position, a gesture of humanity, and a reminder that the struggles of one people can be understood by another even across continents and cultures.

The relationship between Vietnam and Palestine is founded on more than formal diplomatic ties. It is rooted in mutual respect, historical understanding, and people-to-people solidarity.

Vietnam has demonstrated that friendship between nations can survive generations and remain meaningful even as circumstances change.

As Palestine’s representative in Vietnam, I feel a particular responsibility to contribute to strengthening this relationship - to deepen political dialogue, expand economic and cultural cooperation, and encourage greater understanding between our peoples.

Diplomacy is often described through agreements, meetings, official visits, and communiqués. But at its heart, diplomacy is about people.

It is about listening.

It is about understanding another nation’s history and aspirations.

And, above all, it is about building bridges between peoples.

Hanoi and the journey ahead

My journey in Vietnam has only just begun.

There is still much to discover: the landscapes beyond Hanoi, the traditions of the country’s many communities, its rapidly developing cities, its rich cultural heritage, and the stories of the people who have carried Vietnam through generations of change.

But already, one conviction has taken root.

Vietnam is not simply a country with a remarkable history. It is a country that has demonstrated how history can become a foundation for the future.

Its journey - from struggle to reconstruction, from devastation to development, and from war to a growing role in the international community - is a journey worthy of reflection.

For Palestine, Vietnam is also more than a friend.

It is a nation whose experience speaks to the power of perseverance, whose people understand the meaning of national dignity, and whose solidarity reminds us that the desire for freedom and peace belongs to all humanity.

I arrived in Vietnam carrying the responsibility of representing Palestine.

I have also arrived in a country that, in many ways, already felt familiar.

Perhaps that is the greatest privilege of diplomacy: discovering that sometimes the distance between two countries is measured not in kilometers, but in how quickly their peoples recognize something of themselves in one another.

And in Vietnam, Palestine has found a friend whose history, humanity, and enduring spirit will continue to inspire.

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