Estonia sees Ho Chi Minh City as dynamic ‘tiger,’ eyes deeper cooperation

Tsahkna made the remarks during a visit to Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, when he hosted a reception for Estonia’s honorary consuls in Asia as part of his working visit to Vietnam from April 22 to 24, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

The event was attended by 12 honorary consuls, deputy chairman of the city’s administration Hoang Nguyen Dinh, local officials, Estonian Ambassador to China Hannes Hanso, who is concurrently accredited to Vietnam, and business representatives.

Speaking at the event, Tsahkna thanked Estonia’s honorary consul in Ho Chi Minh City for contributing significantly to the organization of his visit to the city.

He highlighted Ho Chi Minh City’s dynamism and growth potential, noting that Estonia–Vietnam ties are increasingly extending to vibrant urban centers like the southern metropolis, which embodies a ‘tiger’ spirit marked by resilience, energy, and a strong drive for development.

He said his visit to the city aims not only to promote business cooperation but also to build trust, strengthen people-to-people ties, and lay the groundwork for a long-term partnership.

Tsahkna encouraged delegates to exchange ideas and explore practical, mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.

Despite geographical distance, Estonia and Vietnam share similarities in their historical experiences and in their determination to safeguard independence and pursue their own development paths, he said.

He added that during earlier meetings in Hanoi, including talks with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Estonia–Vietnam ties.

In his remarks, Dinh described Estonia as a peaceful country on the Baltic Sea where tradition and modernity converge.

He commended the country’s achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, particularly its global leadership in digital transformation, governance, and innovation.

Dinh said Vietnam–Estonia relations, established in 1992, have developed steadily, with cooperation expanding across politics and diplomacy, trade and investment, digital transformation, the digital economy, financial technology, and high-quality human resource training.

Two-way trade has grown steadily in recent years, indicating significant untapped potential, he added.

He appreciated Estonia’s establishment of an honorary consulate there in 2015, underscoring its interest in one of Vietnam’s leading economic, financial, and innovation centers.

He expressed hope that both sides will continue to tap strategic areas of cooperation, particularly as the southern metropolis accelerates digital transformation, smart city development, and deeper international integration.

The official also acknowledged the role of Estonia’s honorary consuls in strengthening connections between Vietnam, broader Asia, and Estonia, helping translate cooperation ideas into tangible outcomes.