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Iran–Vietnam relations refer to the bilateral relations between Iran and Vietnam, which were formally established in 1973. Iran has an embassy in Hanoi while Vietnam maintains an embassy in Tehran.
Persian traders had settled its trades in Vietnam since the early centuries CE and there had been a number of economic relations at that time. Kang Senghui (active 248–280 CE) was a Buddhist monk of Iranic Sogdian and Vietnamese parentage, and an important figure in the translation of Buddhist scriptures in the Wu kingdom.[1] Kang is known as Khương Tăng Hội in Vietnamese Buddhism[2] [3] and Thông Biện (1096) claims scriptural traditions from Kang influenced Vietnamese Buddhism, though there is no independent evidence for this tradition.[4]
Alexandre de Rhodes, who designed the modern Latin Vietnamese alphabet, died in Isfahan, Iran.[5] Since his death, his grave has been a pilgrimate for many Vietnamese who regarded him as the founding father of modern Vietnamese alphabet and protector of Vietnamese heritage.[6] His grave was later erected in both French, Vietnamese, English and Persian as a dedication.
Relations of both Iran and Vietnam did not really exist due to the Vietnam War. Iran was a pro-Western country while Vietnam was divided between Communist North and Capitalist South.
Three Iranian presidents have visited Vietnam, Hassan Rouhani in 2016, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2012, and Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani in 1995.[7]
During Rouhani's visit the two nations pledged to boost future trade to US$2 billion.