According to a statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi, Tugio opened a new Indonesian Language for Foreigners (BIPA) course at Hanoi University on Monday (September 7).
“When we first launched this program in 2018, we dreamed of building bridges between our peoples. Today, that dream has taken root,” Tugio said.
“This is not just another class; it is a living bridge between Indonesia and Vietnam,” he said in the statement issued on Wednesday.
He highlighted rising interest among Vietnamese students and the public, with 700 people registering for the program and 300 currently attending classes.
For the current course period, BIPA classes are offered at Hanoi University (HANU), the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Vietnam National University Hanoi, and the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi.
Related news: Indonesia ships first yogurt export to Vietnam
About 450 people registered for Indonesian-language classes at HANU, while more than 200 registered for classes at the Indonesian Embassy.
The classes will be taught by Dewi Puspa Arum, a BIPA teacher from Indonesia assigned by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to teach Indonesian in Vietnam from September to November 2026.
In addition to language lessons, students will learn about Indonesian culture, traditions and daily life, helping them gain a deeper understanding of Indonesia.
Tugio said growing interest in Indonesian comes as Indonesia and Vietnam expand ties in trade, investment, tourism, education, culture and other areas.
The two countries elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, to be implemented through an action plan covering 2026-2030.
He said proficiency in Indonesian could give Vietnamese people an advantage in pursuing opportunities in business, tourism, diplomacy, education, translation, media and international cooperation.
“Language is more than words. It is a gateway between cultures, and it is also a real tool for opportunity,” Tugio said.
For the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi, BIPA is part of broader efforts to strengthen education, cultural exchange and ties between people and universities in Indonesia and Vietnam.
The program’s growing popularity also shows that bilateral ties can be strengthened through curiosity, friendship and connections among younger generations, the embassy said.
Related news: Indonesia, Vietnam target US$18 billion trade by 2028
Translator: Katriana, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2026
