Czech–Vietnamese relations date back to 1950, when the then Czechoslovak Republic and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam established diplomatic ties. In the following decades, the relationship deepened thanks to political-level understanding, international solidarity, and people-to-people cooperation. Czechoslovakia supplied Vietnam with raw materials and assisted with the country’s development. At the same time, Vietnamese citizens were allowed to travel to Czechoslovakia, where they could study and gain valuable work experience. Some chose to stay, laying the foundation for today’s Vietnamese community, which is now one of the largest minorities in the Czech Republic. Vietnam recognized the independent Czech Republic immediately after its establishment.

Today, Czech–Vietnamese relations are experiencing a highly dynamic period, driven mainly by economic cooperation and cultural ties. The Vietnamese community, present in the Czech Republic for three generations, enriches Czech culture, and Czech Vietnamese have become its integral part. In January 2025, during the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Prague, both countries elevated their relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership. Vietnam has signed such a document with only a handful of countries worldwide, which reflects the positive state of bilateral relations and Vietnam’s interest in the Czech Republic.

In the future, Vietnam and the Czech Republic aim to develop their relations primarily through the platform of the Strategic Partnership, shared values, trade and cultural exchange, and cooperation in green transformation. Both countries have expressed interest in establishing direct flights, as well as setting up a Czech cultural centre in Hanoi and a Vietnamese cultural centre in Prague. At the political level, the Czech Republic and Vietnam will continue to coordinate their positions in multilateral fora with the goal of promoting adherence to international law.