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 the framework for establishing the new centre, which will be housed within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Vietnamese Studies Centre is planned as an academic space designed to support engagement in education, research, and knowledge exchange covering language, arts, culture, and bilateral relations between Thailand and Vietnam. It will feature permanent exhibition areas, a collection of books and academic literature, and spaces for cultural activities and lifelong learning.

Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh spoke of the diplomatic and social significance of the initiative, stating that the Vietnamese Studies Centre will serve as a bridge connecting the peoples of both nations. He noted that promoting mutual understanding of language and culture provides an important foundation for long-term regional cooperation.

Assoc. Prof. Panthongviriyakul expressed the university’s readiness to take the initiative forward, noting that the establishment of the centre reflects KKU’s commitment to international engagement within the ASEAN region.

Assoc. Prof. Piayura noted that the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has the academic personnel, resources, and expertise to support the centre’s mission. She added that the initiative will offer clear benefits to students, researchers, and the wider public wishing to deepen their understanding of Vietnam.

Both parties agreed that the Vietnamese Studies Centre will serve as a means of strengthening ties between Thailand and Vietnam at both institutional and community levels, supporting broader academic collaboration across the region.