KKU Opens "Vietnam Studies Center" to Elevate Thailand–Vietnam Educational Cooperation on the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

KKU Opens “Vietnam Studies Center” to Elevate Thailand–Vietnam Educational Cooperation on the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations

10 September 2026
17:38

Khon Kaen University is advancing Thailand–Vietnam relations on two fronts: creating a dedicated learning space for Vietnamese language, society, and culture, and deepening education, research, and academic exchange between the two countries.

On 9 September 2026, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khon Kaen University held the official opening ceremony for the “Vietnam Studies Center” at Building HS06, marking the 50th anniversary of Thailand–Vietnam diplomatic relations. Associate Professor Dr. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, President of Khon Kaen University, presided over the ceremony and delivered congratulatory remarks.

At the opening ceremony, Associate Professor Dr. Orathai Piayura, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, outlined the Center’s founding objectives. Also in attendance were representatives from the Thailand–Vietnam network, including Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh, Consul-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Khon Kaen; Mr. Surapol Petchvara, Vice President of the Khon Kaen University Council, representing the President of the Thailand–Vietnam Friendship Association; Dr. Premsak Piayura, Senator and Member of the Thailand–Vietnam Bilateral Parliamentary Committee; and Mr. Yutthana Phothiwihok, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen Province, representing the Governor of Khon Kaen. University executives, faculty members, students, and network partners from both countries also attended.

Associate Professor Dr. Orathai Piayura stated that the establishment of the Vietnam Studies Center resulted from cooperative efforts at multiple levels, with the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences serving as the lead academic unit, working alongside the Division of International Affairs to coordinate international collaboration, together with the Consulate-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Khon Kaen and the Thailand–Vietnam network. The Center aims to become a central hub for learning Vietnamese language, society, and culture, as well as a foundation for further developing teaching and learning, research, student and staff exchanges, and academic cooperation activities between the two countries in the future.

Associate Professor Dr. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, stated that opening the Vietnam Studies Center on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Thailand–Vietnam diplomatic relations marks another significant step for the university in using education, academia, and knowledge exchange to strengthen relations between the two countries. The university stands ready to support cooperation with educational institutions, government agencies, and network partners in Vietnam, creating opportunities for students, staff, and the people of both nations.

Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh, Consul-General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Khon Kaen, stated that the Vietnam Studies Center will serve as an important bridge for understanding Vietnam in Thailand, particularly among youth and students, while promoting language and cultural learning, educational exchange, and closer people-to-people relations between the two countries.

Mr. Surapon Petch-vra, Vice Chairman of the Khon Kaen University Council and committee member of the Thailand–Vietnam Friendship Association, stated that Vietnam currently plays an increasingly significant role in Asia’s economy and geopolitics, making it a compelling case study in development and modernisation. The study of Vietnam should therefore not be limited to language and culture alone, but should also encompass deeper issues of national development and the pursuit of modernisation while preserving national identity—an important issue for developing countries in Asia, including Thailand.

Mr. Surapol expressed confidence that the Vietnam Studies Center will grow beyond a knowledge hub about Vietnam into an academic space for systematically understanding Vietnam’s transformations across its economic, social, political, and international-relations dimensions. The Center will use Vietnam as a “lens” through which to view changes across the Asian region and the Greater Mekong Subregion in the 21st century. The Center’s success stems from years of cooperation by KKU’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, including the offering of Vietnamese language courses, academic exchanges with leading universities such as VNU-USSH, and close collaboration with the Consulate-General of Vietnam in Khon Kaen.

Furthermore, Thailand–Vietnam relations have grown not only at the governmental level but also through relationships between peoples, communities, and institutions. The Vietnam Studies Center at Khon Kaen University will serve as an important platform for the younger generation to learn, understand, and strengthen the friendship between the two countries.