Russia–Vietnam relations (Russian: Российско-вьетнамские отношения, Vietnamese: Quan hệ ngoại giao Nga-Việt) date back formally to 30 January 1950, when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics established an embassy to North Vietnam. Russia is a current ally of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Soviet Union was one of the first countries in the world to recognize and formally establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, laying the foundations for strong and cooperative friendship between the two countries.