Education is backbone in Poland-Vietnam relations: Ambassador

As Poland and Vietnam commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties this year, education remains at the heart of their relationship, which has been marked by decades of close exchange and great support.

“Education and bilateral agreements in this sector are the backbone of our relations. After all, when we talk about education, we also talk about culture, language, and cooperation in science and technology,” Joanna Skoczek, Head of Mission, the Embassy of Poland in Vietnam, shared with The Hanoi Times.

The ambassador’s words bring back memories of a time when Poland trained thousands of Vietnamese students, many of whom returned home to hold high-level government positions and contribute to Vietnam’s socio-economic development. These contributions have strengthened the relationship between the two countries, resulting in the vibrant relationship we have today.

Many people, including graduates of Polish universities, those who understand Polish culture and language, those who are not trained in linguistics, or those who translate Polish books into Vietnamese, are treasures for bilateral relations.

“People who have bilateral experience of studying in Poland or in Vietnam, doing business here or there, are all important links in the relationship," she said, noting that "we are here to help, our role is as a facilitator or a door opener, and we vow to do much more to strengthen the bond.”

Those Vietnamese generations are testaments to her views.

The ambassador said one of the key pillars in Poland-Vietnam relations is culture. “I really believe in the power of words and literature. So we want to have more people in Poland to speak Vietnamese and more Vietnamese in the younger generation to speak Polish.”

Now, approximately 120 Polish books have been translated into Vietnamese, ranging from classics of the 19th century to recent editions of newly published books, including works by Polish Nobel Prize laureates in literature. Maybe no other country has had more books translated into Vietnamese than Poland, including “The Witcher” – the favourite childhood book of many people around the world.

“One of our ambitions is to strengthen the bonds based on culture, language, and people to help young ones who want to discover Poland and also Polish people who want to discover Vietnam in person.”

“When it comes to culture, it comes to language.” Skoczek’s idea reflects how important language is in connecting people and tightening the relations. She stressed the need to support the learning and teaching of Polish as a foreign language.

Polish language courses are currently available at some centers in Vietnam, including Hanoi University. However, Ambassador Skoczek aims to expand them, citing Vietnam’s potential for Polish language and cultural studies. Given that Poland is the EU’s 5th largest economy, she sees strong educational and business prospects.

The Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) are willing to send lecturers to help establish Polish centers, a model successful in Japan, South Korea, and China. Skoczek also noted growing interest in Polish culture, classical music, and literature, emphasizing that one doesn’t need to speak Polish to appreciate Chopin’s music or the translated novel Lalka (The Doll) – one of the most famous Polish novels.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, the Embassy of Poland in Hanoi has been preparing a series of events for the whole year.

They started with the first edition of the Vietnam International Piano Competition and Festival (VIPCF) 2025 – Frederic Chopin Edition – in early April in Hanoi. The embassy was a patron and co-sponsor for the prize on behalf of the National Institute of Frederic Chopin in Poland.

The cooperation in culture is also underway through dozens of projects in the pipeline, and the two sides are in discussions about when to take the next steps.

The embassy plans to bring renowned Polish jazz artists to festivals in Vietnam, aiming to showcase them to a wider audience as part of ongoing cultural exchanges, including performances by Polish artists and visits by Vietnamese cultural representatives to Poland.

In the years to come, there will be exhibitions in Vietnam in the field of museum studies to share expertise on how to store, renovate, and digitize art pieces and the objects of culture.

Notably, both Poland and Vietnam have many UNESCO-inscribed heritage items. The two countries have a strong tradition of collaborating on architecture and monument conservation. “Kazik Kwiatkowski is someone I cannot omit from this conversation. He is probably one of the best-known Poles in the history of Vietnam.”

Kazimierz Kwiatkowski, a Polish architect and conservationist affectionately known as “Kazik,” is celebrated in Vietnam for his pivotal role in restoring My Son, Hue, and Hoi An in the 1980s, turning them into major tourist sites.

Concerning this field, the ambassador said, "Why don’t we continue?” when discussing Kazik’s legacy that tightens Poland-Vietnam bonds and benefits Vietnam’s tourism.

A renowned Polish conservation school has experts collaborating with their Vietnamese counterparts to protect world heritage sites.

In addition, the ambassador is working with universities and authorities in Poland to promote a comprehensive approach that links culture, education, and business as interconnected fields.

And she envisions greater economic cooperation.

Ambassador Skoczek said that although Poland and Vietnam are in slightly different circumstances when it comes to development, cultural circumstances, or civilization, the two countries face similar challenges in a globalized world.

“I follow Vietnamese economic development, and I’m absolutely amazed by the goal of 8% GDP growth yearly, and the very ambitious goals are defined by the leaders and the government.”

It means that there will be new jobs created, new technologies, new workers, graduates, and students who need to be prepared for. It results in cooperation opportunities for the two countries as they have the same challenges, such as how to be an economy based on knowledge.

Vietnam is at some point like Poland years ago, a country with a very active population and a source of relatively cheap labor. But it’s time to produce jobs that are highly valued in the supply chain.

In terms of investment, Polish investment in Vietnam has surged from virtually zero two decades ago to millions of dollars today, with more Polish firms, particularly in seaports and logistics, exploring opportunities. Poland’s largest investor in Vietnam is a pharmaceutical firm aiming to make the country a hub for high-end products.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade reached $5.5 billion in 2024, with Vietnam exporting nearly $5 billion worth of textiles, electronics, and food to Poland.

Additionally, Poland sees potential in e-government, e-health, and digital services to leverage its successful mObywatel app, which won the United Nations Public Service Award for digital administration.

“It works very well in Poland. Why not introduce it here?” said the ambassador.

 

Ambassador Skoczek highlighted the mutual understanding fostered by shared experiences of Poland and Vietnam as countries with challenging geographical locations and powerful neighbors.

Vietnamese alumni from Polish universities in the 1950s and 1960s still consider Poland a second home and play a key role in strengthening bilateral ties. The ambassador called them “fantastic assets.”

Skoczek also praised the well-integrated Vietnamese community in Poland, calling them a crucial bridge in strengthening educational, cultural, and business connections between the two countries. “They are the bridge to strengthen the relations.”

At the residence located in the heart of Hanoi, Ambassador Skoczek could not hide her delight about the embassy’s venue, a nice building in a prime location. Interestingly, the location was chosen by President Ho Chi Minh.

“Ba Dinh District is both a workplace and home for me, and honestly, I cannot imagine living anywhere else in Hanoi, and I believe that is a historically important and architecturally beautiful part of the city. It offers endless attractions for tourists and inhabitants like myself.”

She said the location is in the middle of everything, having historical and political meaning. The place, which is a few steps from Ba Dinh Square, enables her to do regular shopping at Ngoc Ha wet market or go for seafood noodles on Doi Can Street. From the residence, she also regularly walks to the Botanical Garden just behind the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, or to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is well-preserved and very authentic.

“I’m always very proud to show this area to my guests, both official and private. The Polish Embassy is located in one of the most prestigious places in Hanoi. And we are grateful for that. I think it’s also symbolically important for our bilateral relationships.”

The location also allows the embassy to showcase Polish art and landscapes. For the ambassador, looking out the window and seeing bamboo trees, mango trees, and frangipani makes her feel at home, which she likes a lot.

Speaking about Hanoi, the ambassador emphasized that Hanoi is the main partner of the embassy, where most of the cultural and educational activities take place, including concerts and exhibitions. Hanoi is also home to important institutions such as the Vietnam-Poland Friendship Association, the Polish-Vietnamese Friendship School, and several universities.

It’s been only half a year since her arrival in Vietnam, Ambassador Skoczek has travelled extensively to Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and other provinces. She will have many more opportunities to learn about Hanoi and other places in Vietnam. “It's always a pleasure working here.”