On January 13, 2026, in Hanoi, authorized by a member of the Politburo, President Luong Cuong, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung awarded the Friendship Medal to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper.
The Friendship Medal is a noble award of the Vietnamese State for foreign individuals and collectives who have made great and positive contributions to building, consolidating and developing friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Vietnam and countries around the world. The awarding of the Friendship Medal to Ambassador Marc Knapper demonstrates the recognition of the Vietnamese Leaders and People for the Ambassador's important contributions in promoting, consolidating and developing friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and the United States throughout his term of office in Vietnam.
Immediately after the medal ceremony, Minister Le Hoai Trung received Ambassador Marc Knapper on the occasion of the Ambassador's end of his term of office in Vietnam and preparation for returning home. The reception took place in a friendly and respectful atmosphere, at a time when the two countries had just celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
At the reception, Minister Le Hoai Trung congratulated Ambassador Marc Knapper on successfully completing his term of office; highly appreciated the Ambassador's important contributions in promoting Vietnam-US relations to become increasingly deep and substantive in many fields, especially the two countries upgrading relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023. The Minister affirmed the active role of Ambassador Knapper in contributing to creating strong momentum for bilateral relations, especially in the fields of politics - diplomacy, economy - trade, defense - security, education - training, science - technology, humanitarian affairs and overcoming war consequences.
The Minister emphasized that Vietnam always values the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States; highly appreciates the close coordination between the US Embassy and the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing high-level agreements and specific cooperation programs, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries; requested the two sides to continue to closely coordinate and effectively implement the agendas agreed upon by the high-level leaders of the two countries, on the basis of respecting the independence, sovereignty and interests of each country, for peace, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.
Speaking at the reception, Ambassador Marc Knapper expressed his deep gratitude for the solemn reception of the leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the effective cooperation and support of Vietnamese agencies, ministries and branches in the past 4 years. The Ambassador affirmed that he is proud to contribute to the strong development of the two countries' relations, especially the upgrading of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thereby strengthening political trust, expanding trade and improving the efficiency of cooperation in many fields such as defense - security, humanitarian affairs, overcoming the consequences of war, energy, science - technology. The Ambassador reaffirmed that no matter what position he holds in the future, he will always be a friend of Vietnam, continue to support and accompany the development of Vietnam - US relations.
