Philippines–Vietnam relations

Vietnamese from Giao Chỉ (Northern Vietnam) in the Philippines, c. 1590 Boxer Codex

Vietnamese Warrior from Giao Chỉ (Northern Vietnam) in the Philippines, c. 1590 Boxer Codex

Relations between the Philippines and Vietnam began centuries ago. There was proof that inhabitants of both countries were already involved in maritime trade prior to the arrival of Europeans. Ships from Luzon in the Philippine archipelago came to the great port of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin to trade. Maritime trade relations were disrupted with the conquest of the Philippines by the Spaniards in the 16th century and the conquest of Vietnam by the French in the 19th century.[1]

Chams who migrated to Sulu were Orang Dampuan.[2] Champa and Sulu engaged in commerce with each other which resulted in merchant Chams settling in Sulu where they were known as Orang Dampuan from the 10th-13th centuries. The Orang Dampuan were slaughtered by envious native Sulu Buranuns due to the wealth of the Orang Dampuan.[3] The Buranun were then subjected to retaliatory slaughter by the Orang Dampuan. Harmonious commerce between Sulu and the Orang Dampuan was later restored.[4] The Yakans were descendants of the Taguima-based Orang Dampuan who came to Sulu from Champa.[5] Sulu received civilization in its Indic form from the Orang Dampuan.[6]

Vietnamese from Quảng Nam (Southern Vietnam) in the Philippines, c. 1590 Boxer Codex

Cham Couple from Champa (in modern-day Southern Vietnam) in the Philippines, c. 1590 Boxer Codex

Members of the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG) arriving in Tay Ninh who were assiting the South Vietnamese government in the Vietnam War.

The Philippines was initially aligned with South Vietnam and provided them humanitarian aid in the Vietnam War.

Before the Fall of Saigon, which preludes the disestablishment of South Vietnam, the Philippines was already preparing to establish relations with North Vietnam. President Marcos authorised his wife, First Lady Imelda Marcos, to make direct contacts while she was conducting state visits to Middle-eastern countries in early 1975. The communist takeover of Cambodia and the impending defeat of South Vietnamese forces led Manila to establish ties with Hanoi. The move was not seen as surprising as it was in line with Marcos' foreign policy to strengthen ties with socialist states in order to broaden economic and trade ties.[1]

On July 9, 1976, Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Phan Hien arrived in Manila to discuss the formal establishment of ties between the two countries. On July 12, 1976, formal relations were finally established with the Philippines[7] the fourth country in the ASEAN to establish relations with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The Philippines and Vietnam opened their respective embassies in 1978.[1][8]

Among the first problems to test the relation between the two countries was the repatriation of 14 Filipinos and 10 Vietnamese families who were still in the city of Hồ Chí Minh, attempts of Vietnamese nationals to illegally enter the Philippines by claiming themselves to be members of Filipino families, and the involvement of Filipinos in the black market was received by the Philippine embassy. These issues hampered relations until the early 1980s.[1]

Vietnamese Embassy in Manila

Philippines Ambassador Noel Servigon at the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 in Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam; organised by TTG Events, Singapore

Despite Vietnam's alignment with the Soviet Union and the Philippines with the United States during the Cold War, bilateral ties between the two countries can be recently described as friendly. On October 26, 2011, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang made a state visit to the Philippines where he met with his Filipino counterpart, President Benigno Aquino III. The two countries signed four agreements on naval, coast guard and tourism as part of the Philippine-Vietnam Action Plan 2011–2016 framework.[9][10][11] A Memorandum of Understanding agreement supported information sharing between the Philippine Navy and the Vietnam People's Navy.[12][13]

Despite being victims of Typhoon Haiyan themselves, although the damage Haiyan made to Vietnam was not so big like expected,[14] the Vietnamese still donated to help the Philippines in its rehabilitation efforts after the natural disaster, through Vietnam Red Cross Society.[15]

A Memorandum of Understanding agreement supported information sharing between the Philippine Navy and the Vietnam People's Navy.

On November 23, 2014, two frigates from the Vietnamese People’s Navy made its first port call to the Philippines. Vessels HQ-011 Dinh Tien Hoang and HQ-012 Ly Thai To docked at the Manila South Harbor for a goodwill visit which lasted three days. The move was initiated by former President Benigno Aquino.[22]