Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Noel Servigon, accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Marichu Servigon and Embassy staff Tran Ngoc, paid a courtesy call on Provincial People's Committee Chairman (Governor) Nguyen Hong Dien of the Province of Thai Binh, on 31 January 2018  In attendance in the meeting were the heads of the Trade and Industry Department, Foreign Relations Department and Planning Department.

         Thai Binh. which is 115 km southeast of Hanoi,  is one of the coastal provinces in the delta region of the Red River, the largest river in the northern part of Vietnam.  It adjoins Hai Phong City which has the largest sea port in the region.   The province has potential supply of natural gas and coal waiting for development.  There are two thermo-electric plants operating in the province.

        Chairman Dien has signified the interest of the province to have a sister-province in the Philippines.