History
- November 23, 1946: The First National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross was held in Van Dinh, Ung Hoa, Hanoi (old Ha Tay), officially establishing the Vietnam Red Crescent Society, now known as the Vietnam Red Cross Society. State President Ho Chi Minh served as the Society’s Honorary President for the next 23 years until his passing. Dr. Vu Dinh Tung was elected as President of the National Society.
- June 5, 1957: State President Ho Chi Minh sent an official letter to the Swiss Federal Government declaring Vietnam’s accession to the four Geneva Conventions on the protection of war victims. On November 4, 1957, the Vietnam Red Crescent Society was officially recognized as a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- November 19, 1960: The Second National Congress of the Vietnam Red Crescent Society. Dr. Vu Dinh Tung was re-elected as President of the National Society.
- February 27, 1961: The Red Cross organization of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam was established with Dr. Phung Van Cung as President.
- December 15, 1965: The Third National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society changed the name of the National Society to the Vietnam Red Cross Society (from ‘Hoi Hong Thap tu” into “Hoi Chu thap do”). Dr. Vu Dinh Tung was re-elected as President of the National Society.
- December 10-11, 1971: The Fourth National Congress of the National Society. The Vietnam Red Cross Society was awarded the Second-Class Labor Order. Dr. Vu Dinh Tung was re-elected as President of the Naitonal Society.
- June 1973: Congress of the Red Cross organization of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam. Professor Nguyen Van Thu was elected as President of the National Society.
- July 31, 1976: The Conference on the Unification of the Vietnam Red Cross Society and the Red Cross organization of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam into the Vietnam Red Cross Society. Professor Nguyen Van Thu was elected as President of the National Society.
- March 11-12, 1988: The Fifth National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. Professor Nguyen Trong Nhan was elected as President of the National Society. The Vietnam Red Cross Society was awarded the First-Class Independence Order.
- March 15-17, 1995: The Sixth National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, H.E. Mr. Do Muoi served as Honorary President of the National Society. Professor Nguyen Trong Nhan continued as President of the National Society.
- August 7-9, 2001: The Seventh National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. H.E. Mr. Tran Duc Luong, State President of Viet Nam served as Honorary President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. Professor Nguyen Trong Nhan continued as President of the Society.
- July 31, 2003: The Central Executive Committee of the Society (4th meeting) appointed Professor Ph.D Nguyen Van Thuong as President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. On September 20, 2005, the Second Vietnam Red Cross Society Emulation Congress for National Advancement. The Vietnam Red Cross Society was awarded the First-Class Labor Order.
- June 28-29, 2007: The Eighth National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. H.E. Mr. Tran Duc Luong, former State President of Viet Nam continued as Honorary President of the Society. Dr. Tran Ngoc Tang was elected as President of the National Society.
- July 4-5, 2012: The Ninth National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. H.E.Mr. Truong Tan Sang, State President of Viet Nam was honored as Honorary President of the National Society. Mr. Nguyen Hai Duong was elected as President of the National Society.
- August 15-16, 2017: The Tenth National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, State President of Viet Nam was honored as Honorary President of the National Society. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu was elected as President of the National Society.
- January 2019: General Secretary and President of the State – H.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong was assigned by the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam to serve as Honorary President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society.
- From December 2021, Dr. Bui Thi Hoa was elected as President of the National Society.
- The 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Red Cross Society took place on August 29-30, 2022, under the theme “Building an increasingly strong Vietnam Red Cross Society, promoting the core role in humanitarian work, practically assisting people in difficult circumstances, and vulnerable people to rise in life, actively implementing the social security policy of the Party and State, joining hands to build a humane community, and making positive contributions to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.”
- Bui Thi Hoa was re-elected as President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, State President of Viet Nam was honored as the Vietnam Red Cross Society’s Honorary President from August 2022 to April 2023.
- E. Mr. Vo Van Thuong, State President of Viet Nam was honored as the served as the Vietnam Red Cross Society’s Honorary President from April 2023 to April 2024.