Morocco and Vietnam enjoy cordial bilateral relations that have been steadily progressing and evolving with time. These ties and cooperation also show up in the educational sector. In the Ba Vi district of Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, there stands a monument that was built in the 1950s as a symbol for the ties between the two populations.
Map showing the location of Morocco and Vietnam
Historical Context
Both countries share a history as colonies of France. During the First Indochina War, France sent over 120,000 soldiers from its North African territories to fight against the Japanese and Viet Minh. The soldiers were often threatened or persuaded under false pretenses to join the army, where they would serve as cannon fodder.
The Viet Minh targeted Moroccan soldiers to defect, with support from Moroccan resistance leader Abd el-Krim. Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh also sought help from Moroccan communist leader Mohamed Ben Aomar Lahrech to integrate Moroccan defectors from the French side in the Viet Minh army. Some of these soldiers even settled down in Vietnam, marrying Vietnamese women and starting families there. The same can be said for Vietnam.
Morocco Gate was built between 1956 and 1960 by the very same soldiers that stayed in Vietnam after defecting from the French army. Morocco Gate underwent major renovations in 2018 and was reopened to a crowd which included the Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam.
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In the 1940s, Vietnamese seafarers settled in Morocco. In 1972, during the Vietnam War, Moroccan King Hassan II signed a degree to allow the defectors to return to Morocco. Considering the harsh conditions in wartime Vietnam, many of the Moroccans and their families took this chance.
Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Viet Minh
Diplomatic and Economic Ties
Vietnam and Morocco established diplomatic relations in March 1961. «Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy gives priority to strengthening and expanding relations with African countries,” Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang said.
Pursuing bilateral and multilateral cooperation in diverse sectors, including culture, defense, tourism, trade and investments, science and technology, security, and other fields while safeguarding mutual benefits, is vital for their relations. The countries are cooperating to resolve global issues like climate change, piracy, terrorism, cybersecurity, etc.
On Friday in Rabat, Morocco's Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, held a meeting with Tran Thanh Man, the President of Vietnam's National Assembly. The two leaders focused their discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation. Akhannouch highlighted «the importance of supporting and assisting initiatives that aim to boost economic cooperation», as stated in an official release. The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on various regional and international issues of common interest. Additionally, both sides took the chance to commend the progress made in parliamentary relations between Morocco and Vietnam.
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With respect to legislative cooperation, the countries’ two parliaments signed a cooperation agreement in 2017. In 2008, Moroccan PM Abbas El Fassi visited Vietnam. The high commission's diplomatic mission's mandate is to forge stronger and closer ties between the two countries.
Trade and Education
In 2024, trade between the two countries reached over USD 302 million, a 28.5% increase over 2023. Vietnam exported mobile phones, coffee, and pepper to Morocco, while Morocco exported fertilizers, electronics, leather, and footwear. Morocco is supporting Vietnam’s goal of becoming a regional hub in the halal products sector.
With respect to collaboration in education, Morocco has offered annual scholarships to Vietnamese students since 2011. About 20 students are currently studying in the Kingdom.
Trade between Morocco and Vietnam
The Embassy of Morocco in Hanoi offers a wide range of consular services, including the processing of visas and passports and document legalization. Visits to the Embassy of Morocco in Hanoi are strictly by appointment. For instance, if you want to apply for consular services, you should visit the Consular Section.
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The Indochina War 1945-1954 (Full Documentary)
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