1960-1962: Faculty of International Relations
Department of Foreign Trade, which is in Faculty of International Relations of University of Economics and Finance under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was formally established in 1960. The first class of 1960-1966 intake and the third class of 1962-1967 intake were enrolled in the Faculty of International Relations.
On 20th June, 1962, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong signed a Decree to separate the Faculty of International Relations from the University of Economics and Finance and establish the University of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, which is under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
1962-1967: University of Foreign Affairs – Foreign Trade
The campus of the University of Foreign Affairs – Foreign Trade was in the current location of both Foreign Trade University and Institute of Foreign Affairs. The University was responsible for training undergraduates for both Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Trade. There were two faculties in the university, Faculty of Foreign Affairs and Faculty of Foreign Trade. During the war time, the university campus was moved to Thai Nguyen province. Also, the forth and fifth intake were enrolled.
1967 – 1984: Foreign Trade University.
On the 14th August, 1967, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong signed a Decree to split the University of Foreign Affairs-Foreign Trade into the University of Foreign Affairs, which was under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade University (FTU), which was under the Ministry of Foreign Trade. At the same time, FTU campus was moved to Ha Tay province. By this time, the first and second intake had already graduated. Also, the first president of FTU was selected. There were more faculties in FTU including Faculty of Foreign Trade Practices, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Executive Training, and Department of Politics. The training activities started to be expanded to encompass both full-time and part-time training. By the end of 1967, FTU campus was moved again to Hanoi.
1984-1999: Expanding training activities and improving training quality.
In 1984, FTU was transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Trade to the Ministry of Education and Training. FTU’s bodies including Board of Governors, Committee of Communist Party, Faculties, Departments, Labor Union, Youth Union... were being reorganized and strengthened. In 1993, Ho Chi Minh City campus was established, contributing to the expansion of FTU. In 1995 and 1998, respectively, master programs and PHD programs were offered.
1999 to now: Being improved continuously and integrated internationally.