On June 2, the Consulate General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic with an official reception that brought together Vietnamese officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from the business, cultural, and educational sectors, as well as numerous Italian and Vietnamese citizens.
Below is the full text of Consul General Alessandra Tognonato’s remarks:
SPEECH OF ITALIAN CONSUL GENERAL
Alessandra Tognonato
Good evening and welcome!
Mr. Tran Van Bay, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee,
Vietnamese Authorities,
Colleagues from the Consular Corps and the International Organizations, Dear Italian citizens and friends of Italy, Today, 2 June, we celebrate the Day of the Republic of Italy, established eighty years ago by the will of the Italian people. With the institutional referendum of 2 June 1946, Italian men – and women voting for the first time – chose the Republic, opening a new pattern of freedom, peace and democracy. That choice strengthened unity and social cohesion, unfolding new energies that were essential for the reconstruction and transformation of Italy.
The country found in these energies its momentum, and in the Constitution its guiding compass.
Allow me, therefore, to begin with the Constitution, whose article 1 defines, with remarkable brevity, a set of deeply meaningful values: “Italy is a democratic Republic, founded on labour”. The Republic is therefore, above all, the story of Italians and their work, the story of a resource that combines tradition and innovation, quality and creativity. From this synthesis stems the value of Made in Italy, recognized worldwide as an expression of “beauty and well-crafted”. This way of producing and innovating has its roots in the Italian Renaissance: in the convergence of humanistic and technical knowledge, in the centrality of the person, and in the pursuit of a balance between functionality and aesthetics, making the Italian model recognizable and competitive globally.
Through their work, Italians have earned worldwide a reputation for competence, reliability and entrepreneurial spirit, including in Ho Chi Minh City, where a dynamic cohesive and well-integrated community of 870 Italian nationals resides, representing around two-thirds of all Italian citizens in Vietnam. Our community, with its daily commitment, contributes to strengthening the image of Italy and to building an ever-stronger bond between our peoples.
This anniversary of the Republic of Italy takes on particular significance as it follows closely the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s Declaration of Independence. Two distinct historical paths, yet united by a shared aspiration for freedom and self-determination. For this reason, Italy regards Vietnam with respect and sincere friendship. Over time, our bilateral relations have grown deeper, broader and more strategic.
This is reflected in the recent visit to Italy of the President of the National Assembly, Tran Thanh Man, who, in his meeting with the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, expressed the hope for strengthened cooperation in key sectors such as science, innovation and education.
Our bilateral economic relations are today solid and mature.
In 2025, bilateral trade reached 6.9 billion euros and continues to grow, with a marked acceleration in the early months of 2026. These are significant results, supported by increasing mutual interest among our business communities and by the progressive integration of our production systems. On this basis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, has identified Vietnam as a high-potential market for Italian exports, recognizing it as a strategic partner for mutually beneficial cooperation in the most promising sectors, where Italy is regarded as a reliable and highly qualified partner. On this basis, as building on the 100 companies already active in this consular district, we can continue to develop new opportunities for shared growth. Yet what makes the Italian presence here in Ho Chi Minh City truly distinctive goes beyond the economic dimension.
The Consulate General works every day alongside all the actors of the “Sistema Italia” to bring more Italy into the economic and financial heart of this country. Starting with science and space diplomacy: thanks to our bilateral cooperation agreement, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has co-funded 60 joint research projects with prestigious local partners; furthermore, Italy – which, I would like to recall, in 1964 became the third country in the world to launch a satellite into orbit – has established fruitful collaborations here on Earth observation in the Mekong Delta, reinforced by a series of events with the HCMC University of Natural and Environmental Resources (HCMUNRE).
In the field of culture, in September Maestro Roberto Fiore will stage Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” at the Opera House, in collaboration with the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO). This will be followed by a series of established events in the autumn of Saigon: the Week of Italian Language with the Department of Linguistics and Literature at USSH-VNUHCM; the Italian Film Festival; Italian Cuisine Week; and “Study in Italy”, in collaboration with Uni-Italia, to foster direct dialogue between Italian universities and Vietnamese students.
There are many more fields that build bridges between our peoples and our cultures:
I am thinking of design, with our iconic brands and the Salone del Mobile in Milan, a global benchmark for the sector.
And I am thinking of sporting excellence:
Our Vietnamese friends have come to appreciate Italians through football, before discovering that we are even stronger in other sports, starting with tennis, with Jannik Sinner, as the world number one; volleyball, double world championship gold for both the women’s and men’s teams winning world titles; and winter sports, with a record 30 medals at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Motorcycle racing, with Marco Bezzecchi’s victory yesterday at the MotoGP race in Mugello.
Different fields – a common thread: the ability to transform knowledge, talent and creativity into tangible and lasting results—an ability that Italy brings to its international relations, in order to build, together with its partners, new opportunities for growth and dialogue.
My sincere thanks go to our sponsors,
starting with the Platinum Sponsors: Generali Assicurazioni and JAS Vietnam Logistic;
Golden Sponsors: Bonfiglioli, Danieli and Maserati; Silver Sponsors: D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, Datalogic, Vard Vung Tau (Fincantieri), Mapei, Ferrari, Multimedia, Alchemy/Campari, Piaggio, Ducati, BM Wines, Ruou Ngon Wines, Boncafe, Ly Gia Vien, Mr. Giulio Iazzetta/Winecellar, Eurasia Concept, Tran Gia Event, Duy Anh Fashion & Cosmetics. My heartfelt thanks also to the entire team of the Consulate General for their outstanding work, to the Italian Trade Agency and ICHAM, to the Italian Women’s Association in Saigon, to all friends of Italy gathered here, and to the musicians who make this evening so special.
Eighty years ago, the Italian Republic was born.
Today, we celebrate its values—and we look to the future with confidence.
Long live Italy, long live Vietnam!
