Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — Indonesia Vietnam relations entered a new chapter this month when Consul General Agustaviano Sofjan accepted the Peace and Friendship Among Nations medal, Vietnam’s highest civilian honor for foreign partners.
The accolade, conferred by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations at Friendship Tower, recognizes the diplomat’s tireless work to advance economic, social and cultural links since his posting began in September 2021.
Friday’s ceremony opened a wider cultural program co-hosted with the Vietnam-ASEAN Friendship Association, featuring an “ASEAN: Happiness with Tea” showcase that spotlighted signature brews from Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam.
HUFO Chair Dr Do Viet Ha pinned the medal on Sofjan before leaders of ASEAN friendship bodies offered congratulations and gifts, underscoring the multilateral goodwill driving regional cooperation.
Sofjan called the honor a shared achievement, stressing that robust people-to-people exchanges now serve as the “bridge” binding two long-standing partners in Southeast Asia.
That sentiment echoed March’s Jakarta visit by Vietnam’s party chief Tô Lâm, where both capitals marked 70 years of diplomatic ties and elevated their agenda to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
During the tea ceremony, Vietnamese students of Indonesian studies from Ho Chi Minh City University performed the dynamic Indang dance, illustrating how cultural diplomacy sustains momentum beyond formal talks.
With bilateral trade already topping USD 14 billion in 2024, observers say the fresh recognition positions both governments to accelerate cooperation in agritech, green energy and creative industries throughout 2025.
