Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu (C), Siegfried Sommer (R) and Paul Hoffmann at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Accordingly, the Vietnamese State’s noble distinction was bestowed on Chairman of the Germany - Vietnam Association (GVA) Siegfried Sommer while the Friendship Medal was presented to Paul Hoffmann, former Vice Chairman of the GVA and Editor-in-Chief of the “Vietnam Info” e-newspaper.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Minh Vu hailed the awardees as close and sincere friends of Vietnam.

Sommer worked in Vietnam for a decade and was instrumental in modernising Hai Phong port and training human resources in the country.

Returning to his homeland, he was active in activities of the GVA. More than a decade of working as GVA Chairman, he has helped bolstering the friendship between the two peoples.

Hoffmann, for his part, worked at representative offices of many German companies in Vietnam. Since 2008, he has actively joined GVA’s activities in Germany. His e-newspaper “Vietnam Info” regularly updates German readers on the Vietnamese situation.

On the occasion, member of the GVA consulting board Nguyen Duc Thang, Sommer and Hoffmann handed over donations from the GVA, and two restaurants - “Madame Thu Trang” and "Mr. An" - in support of the national COVID-19 vaccine fund in Vietnam.