Founded on October 9, 1874, the Universal Postal Union was initially formed as the General Postal Union with 22 founding members who signed the Treaty of Berne in Switzerland. Today, UPU, one of the oldest specialized agencies of the United Nations, comprises 192 member countries. Vietnam officially became a member of the UPU on August 23, 1976.
In 2024, UPU celebrates its 150th anniversary, recognizing a century and a half of global cooperation in postal services. To mark this milestone, the UPU has launched a series of commemorative activities, including the release of an anniversary logo and the recommendation for member countries to issue commemorative stamps using the official anniversary branding.
On October 9, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Communications and Vietnam Post issued the "150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (1874-2024)" commemorative stamp.
The commemorative stamp, measuring 32 x 43 mm, has a face value of VND 4,000 and was designed by Le Khanh Vuong of Vietnam Post. The design, inspired by the art of paper folding, features a central image of a dove delivering a letter, a symbol often associated with postal services. The use of pink, blue, and purple shades arranged in triangular patterns brings this image to life.
The stamp’s background depicts the globe, representing UPU's enduring commitment to fostering global unity and collaboration in postal services. This reflects the ongoing efforts of UPU to build a robust and connected postal network that helps member countries work together to deliver the best postal services to people worldwide.
The "150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (1874-2024)" stamp will be available across Vietnam’s postal network from October 9, 2024, until June 30, 2026.
Stamp collectors and enthusiasts can now order this commemorative stamp and its related items, including the first-day cover (FDC) and perforated and non-perforated stamps, through the VietnamStamp.vn website operated by Vietnam Stamps, a subsidiary of Vietnam Post.
In addition, 2024 marks the 53rd UPU International Letter-Writing Competition, an annual event that engages young people worldwide. This year's competition aligns with UPU's anniversary, with the theme: "In its 150-year journey, the Universal Postal Union has served eight generations of people worldwide. The world has changed in many ways since then. Write a letter to future generations, telling them about the world you hope they will inherit."
As a proactive member of UPU, Vietnam has organized the competition nationwide, allowing students to deepen their understanding of UPU's mission and the global significance of postal services.
Previously, in August 1994, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued a commemorative stamp for UPU’s 120th anniversary, featuring two stamps and one stamp block designed by artists Tran The Vinh and Do Lenh Tuan.
Vietnam’s commemorative stamp for the 150th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. Photo: Vietnam Post
First-day cover of the "150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union" stamp. Photo: Vietnam Post
Commemorative stamp for the 120th anniversary of UPU, issued in 1994 by Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications.
