Twin City Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest city, is developing at a rapid pace and is now regarded as the country's cultural and economic hub. Formerly known as Saigon, this city on the Mekong Delta impresses with its blend of historical charm, modern urban living and cultural diversity. This is where old and new Vietnam converge, harbouring everything from bustling markets through to soaring skyscrapers.
The dynamic relationship between Leipzig and Vietnam reflects the profound bond and cooperation the cities have forged on a range of issues. Vietnamese students were drawn to Leipzig as early as the 1950s, and contract labourers from Vietnam supported the city's economy from the 1980s onwards. Even after the Peaceful Revolution, Vietnamese residents remained valued members of the city's community, successfully integrating themselves with their own businesses. Leipzig plays an active role in driving forward cooperation with Vietnam, and the partnership between Leipzig and Ho Chi Minh City is underscored by a variety of joint projects. The key areas of cooperation that have developed over time include healthcare, energy and environmental technology, education and science, sustainable urban development, culture and trade fairs, and species conservation.
Ho Chi Minh City became Leipzig's 15th twin city in 2021. The partnership is particularly noteworthy because it is supported not only by the International Cooperation Department, but also the Office of Economic Development. Besides being steeped in history, it continues to actively shape Leipzig's economic and cultural landscape to this day.
Boasting approximately 3,500 members, the Vietnamese population in Leipzig constitutes Germany's second-largest Vietnamese community and plays an important role in the twinning arrangement with Ho Chi Minh City. The Verein der Vietnamesen Leipzig e.V. (Vietnamese Association Leipzig e. V.) supports its members with various aspects of life, promotes integration and preserves traditions, while the Verein Deutsch-Vietnamesisches-Haus e.V. (German-Vietnamese House Association e.V.), founded in 2020, focuses on strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Leipzig in the areas of business, science, art, culture and sport.
Leipzig – Vietnam: Strengthened Alliances
To coincide with the strengthening of the alliance in 2021, a brochure was published outlining the multifaceted nature of Leipzig's cooperation with Vietnam, twin city Ho Chi Minh City and the local Vietnamese diaspora. It is available in German and Vietnamese.
Facts and Figures
Twin city since 2021
Population: 9.3 million (2023)
Area: 2,061.2 square kilometers
Distance: 9,357 kilometers
Projects and Cooperation
The implementation of numerous projects attests to the long-standing tradition of collaboration between the City of Leipzig and Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. A range of other initiatives and events are currently being carried out and planned in light of the successful partnerships and close collaboration established.
2024 Projects (Subject to Change):
- In the planning stage: "Drinking from Tap" project with Ho Chi Minh City, SAWACO (municipal water supply company of Ho Chi Minh City), Aone Deutschland AG and the City of Leipzig's municipal water supply company
- Collaboration between artists from Leipzig and Ho Chi Minh City on the theme of "Ecologies of Water" as part of the LIA Leipzig International Art Programme and A. Farm International Art Residency, sponsored by the Deutsch-Vietnamesisches-Haus e.V., the City of Leipzig and the Goethe-Institut Ho Chi Minh City
- January: coming together of theatre practitioners from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Leipzig in the Ost-Passage Theater during a Goethe-Institut Vietnam educational trip
2023 Projects
- 26 to 28 September 2023: Engagement Global Asia Conference in Hildesheim and working visit to Leipzig from partner municipality Ho Chi Minh City
- 11 to 15 September 2023: City of Leipzig delegation visit to Vietnam (trade fair, healthcare, recruitment of skilled workers, economic forum)
- The City of Leipzig used the business trip as an opportunity to recruit skilled workers and trainees in the twin city of Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi in conjunction with Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (Leipzig Transport Authority), the Klinikum St. Georg (St. Georg Hospital) and the University Hospital
- The Economic Development Office made an appearance alongside local companies at "Pharmed & Healthcare Vietnam", Vietnam's largest trade fair for medical technology and pharmaceuticals
- Other focal points of the business trip included the expansion of existing alliances in the water and energy sectors, future collaboration with Military Hospital 175 and the economic forum "Green growth - towards a climate-neutral economy"
- 23 June 2023: City Hall reception for Vietnamese trainees who have commenced their training in the catering, hotel and nursing sectors in Leipzig
- 20 April to 20 May 2023: exhibition by Leipzig photographer Adrian Sauer held as part of the "Photo Biennale" in Hanoi
- 2 February 2023: Vietnamese ambassador Vu Quang Minh and his wife Nguyen Minh Hanh become patrons and sponsors of Leipzig Zoo's newborn elephant Bào Ngoc, daughter of Voi Nam and Thuza