Khon Kaen University (KKU) is advancing its international collaboration with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam through a newly proposed initiative to establish a Vietnamese Studies Centre. On 22 June 2026, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted an official meeting between Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh, the Consul-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, and the executive administrators of Khon Kaen University. The KKU delegation was led by Associate Professor Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, alongside Assistant Professor Acharawan Topark-Ngarm, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for International Affairs, and Associate Professor Orathai Piayura, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The discussion focused on strategic frameworks for organizing the new centre, which will be physically located within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Vietnamese Studies Centre is envisioned as a dedicated academic hub designed to enhance trilateral engagement in education, research, and knowledge exchange regarding language, arts, culture, and bilateral relations between Thailand and Vietnam. Structurally, the centre will feature permanent exhibition areas, a comprehensive collection of books and academic literature, and spaces tailored for interactive cultural activities and lifelong learning.
Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh, Consul-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, highlighted the diplomatic and social significance of the initiative, stating that the Vietnamese Studies Centre will serve as an authentic bridge connecting the peoples of both nations. He noted that promoting mutual understanding of language and culture provides a vital foundation for sustaining long-term regional cooperation.
Associate Professor Panthongviriyakul expressed the university’s readiness to drive the initiative forward, emphasizing that the establishment of the centre reflects KKU’s commitment to acting as a leading international institution with a proactive role in fostering international relations within the ASEAN region.
Furthermore, Associate Professor Piayura added that the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences possesses the academic personnel, resources, and expertise required to fully support the mission of the centre. The Dean noted that the initiative will offer substantial benefits to students, researchers, and the general public seeking a deeper, multi-dimensional understanding of Vietnam.
Both parties ultimately agreed that the Vietnamese Studies Centre will serve as a vital mechanism for developing tighter, sustainable bonds between Thailand and Vietnam at both institutional and grassroots levels, ultimately catalyzing broader academic excellence and international collaboration across the region.
