For French Ambassador Olivier Brochet, Tet is defined by beautiful traditions and by the way Vietnamese people turn toward their families and teachers at the moment when spring and earth meet in transition.

In the first days of the Lunar New Year, the French Ambassador to Vietnam donned an ao dai, explored the Temple of Literature and felt the subtle shift of seasons. In the quiet, ancient space of the heritage site, he shared his reflections with the press on the occasion of the Year of the Horse 2026.

A perfect 2025, expectations for a stronger new year

Asked to assess Vietnam - France relations over the past year, particularly while seated at a venue so closely tied to the two countries’ journey, the Ambassador described 2025 as a year of strong development.

On the political front, two major events stood out. In late May, French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse paid a state visit to Vietnam. Shortly afterward, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh traveled to France to attend the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice and conducted a bilateral visit, meeting French leaders in Paris.

Through these encounters, leaders of both countries expressed pride in the decades-long relationship between Vietnam and France. They also reaffirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation in ways that contribute to stability and peace in the region and the wider world.

“What stands out to me most is the trust between our two sides - France’s trust in Vietnam,” Ambassador Brochet emphasized.

During President Macron’s visit, three moments left a deep impression on him.

The first was the luncheon hosted by General Secretary To Lam and his spouse for President Macron and his spouse at the Temple of Literature, a site rich in symbolism. The French President and First Lady were moved to be welcomed in such a meaningful location.

The second was the joint planting of a friendship tree - an osmanthus - by President Emmanuel Macron and General Secretary To Lam within the Presidential Palace grounds, followed by a visit to Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house.

The third was President Macron’s dialogue with Vietnamese students at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi. The exchange allowed the French President to express his confidence in the younger generation and France’s desire to accompany Vietnamese youth in the country’s development journey.

In high-level discussions, the two sides addressed strategic areas including defense, energy, transport infrastructure and healthcare.

In defense, Vietnam seeks to diversify partners to strengthen strategic autonomy. A letter of intent was signed between the Vietnamese Minister of National Defense and the French Minister of the Armed Forces to deepen practical cooperation during the President’s visit.

In energy, France is accompanying Vietnam in meeting its growing energy demands and its 2050 net-zero commitment. France is ready to share technology, including in the nuclear field.

In transport, particularly the North - South high-speed railway and metro lines, France possesses advanced technology and stands ready to transfer know-how and support human resource training.

Healthcare, a longstanding pillar in bilateral ties, also presents an opportune moment for renewed momentum.

The Ambassador cited a concrete example in energy cooperation. Within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, France has committed 500 million euros to Vietnam. To date, more than half of that amount has been pledged to specific projects.

“We have just experienced an especially perfect year in 2025 with several major milestones. I sincerely hope that 2026 - the Year of the Horse - will see Vietnam - France relations advance even further on the basis of projects launched last year,” he said. He expressed hope for dynamic cooperation reflecting friendship, partnership and trust, particularly in support of Vietnam’s sustainable development goals.

Having just visited an exhibition of horses at the Temple of Literature, the Ambassador was asked about the symbolism of the Year of the Horse - dynamism, freedom, passion and good fortune, captured in the Vietnamese wish “Ma dao thanh cong.”

He extended New Year greetings to the Vietnamese people, noting the special meaning of offering them from such a historic and cultural site.

This is his third Tet in Vietnam, and each year remains moving. Tet, he said, is not only a celebration of the new year but a sacred time connecting generations, symbolizing life and the resilience of the Vietnamese people.

He observed similarities between Tet and Christmas in France. Though the meanings differ, the atmosphere is comparable - a time for family reunions, for members long apart to return home.

In Vietnam, he noted, reverence for ancestors, grandparents, parents and former teachers is expressed even more strongly. For him, this is not merely a beautiful tradition but a deeper source of Vietnam’s unique strength.

He expressed confidence that Vietnam will continue achieving success. Over the past 40 years, the country’s accomplishments have been remarkable and have left a deep impression internationally. Since taking up his post, each French delegation visiting Vietnam has conveyed admiration for the nation’s progress.

France hopes its partnership will continue contributing to that success. The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam has set out ambitious development goals. France believes Vietnamese leaders and people will successfully realize them and reaffirms its readiness to accompany Vietnam on that path.

France stands ready to share with Vietnam

The 14th Party Congress identified promoting foreign affairs and international integration as a “key and regular” task alongside defense and security. Ambassador Brochet welcomed this orientation.

France believes in Vietnam’s development and remains open to cooperation opportunities. A notable point in the Congress documents, he said, is Vietnam’s determination to enhance its international role for peace, stability and development. France shares that spirit, reflected in exchanges between President Macron and General Secretary To Lam.

Amid global complexities, France, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and G7 Chair in 2026, will work with partners such as Vietnam to safeguard global stability.

In his opening speech at the 14th Party Congress, General Secretary To Lam underscored independence and strategic autonomy. France is ready to accompany Vietnam in this domain. Vietnam has clearly articulated its stance at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the WTO.

Beyond bilateral ties, both countries must cooperate to address global challenges including climate change, ocean protection and biodiversity. Vietnam was among the first 60 countries to ratify the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction - an important foundation for tackling future challenges together.

The world is facing instability due to imbalances in trade and international relations. During its G7 presidency, France aims to promote rebalancing and dialogue among various blocs, including BRICS and the G20, based on the United Nations Charter. France believes Vietnam shares the objective of ensuring sustainable global development.

In November, the 20th Francophonie Summit will take place in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Many still recall that Vietnam hosted the summit in 1997. This will be an opportunity for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to further promote French language learning and strengthen ties with the global Francophone community, including developed countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and Canada, as well as developing nations in Africa.

“Happy New Year to Vietnam - a country with a thousand-year history that has overcome hardship and now looks to the future with optimism,” the Ambassador concluded.

Tran Thuong