Gass made the proposal during his meeting with Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, on July 7.

He commended Hanoi's recent progress, especially its efforts in administrative streamlining following the provincial-level mergers, and reaffirmed Switzerland’s interest in strengthening ties with the Vietnamese capital.

The Ambassador noted that the large Swiss flower clock, originally gifted by Bern to Hanoi in 2010 for the city’s millennial anniversary, has been restored and is now operational again. He suggested that both sides jointly organise an inauguration ceremony for the clock in October 2025.

He proposed bringing the world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival to Hanoi in 2026. The event he said could be expanded with additional musical performances to create a vibrant and diverse festival experience that would leave a lasting impression on local and international audiences.

Thanh, for his part, recalled his 2023 visit to Switzerland, highlighting valuable experiences in urban planning and infrastructure development, particularly in river and lake management and environmental technology. He also expressed appreciation for Switzerland’s longstanding cooperation with Hanoi.

He welcomed the proposals, particularly the jazz festival and the flower clock celebration, viewing them as meaningful symbols of friendship between the two countries. He expressed Hanoi’s readiness to fully support the initiatives and instructed the city’s Department of Culture and Sports to coordinate with the Swiss side for smooth and successful event planning.

The Hanoi leader also affirmed that the city is committed to creating favourable conditions for all commemorative activities marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland.

Vietnam Day 2025 in Switzerland: Turning words into actions

The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland and the Switzerland – Vietnam Economic Forum (SVEF) jointly organised the Vietnam Day 2025 at the University of Zurich on June 23.