Warm traditional New Year festival for Lao and Cambodian students

On April 14, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union organized a traditional New Year festival for Lao and Cambodian students studying in the city. Sharing at the program, Chang Sreypech, a Cambodian student, said: “Although we study far from our homeland, we always feel warm thanks to the care from the government, people and Vietnamese students. Especially, the traditional New Year is when we clearly feel the affection and care from teachers and friends. That is the motivation for me to try to study and preserve the national cultural identity, introducing the traditional rituals of my homeland to international friends.”

Thon Bunheng, President of the Cambodian Student Association in Ho Chi Minh City, shared his joy at celebrating Tet in a warm and familiar atmosphere: "Today's program makes me feel like I'm at home, celebrating the New Year with family and friends with typical traditional activities."

Laotian student Maypaseuth Bounkham also expressed her happiness at attending the ceremony: “Although I cannot return home to celebrate Tet, I am very happy because the city leaders care about me and organize many meaningful activities. Ho Chi Minh City is a livable place, helping me to enrich my knowledge and learn new things - valuable luggage for me to bring back to build my homeland and country.”

Delegates tie strings around their wrists following the traditional Lao and Cambodian New Year customs. (Photo: Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper)

Speaking at the program, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, said: Ho Chi Minh City currently has nearly 1,500 Lao and Cambodian students studying at academies and universities. These are positive factors contributing to fostering solidarity and friendship among the people of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia. The city's leaders are committed to always accompanying and supporting international students in their studies and activities, creating conditions for them to feel secure in their studies, contributing to the development of diplomatic relations between the three countries.

On the same day, April 14, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province organized the 2568 Lao traditional New Year Bunpimay Festival for Lao students studying at universities and colleges in the province.

Lao students perform traditional rituals of praying for good luck of Lao ethnic people. (Photo: Quang Ngai Provincial Information Center)

Speaking at the program, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Phien said: Bunpimay Festival is a spiritual gift that the government and people of Quang Ngai give to Lao students studying abroad on the occasion of the traditional New Year. Although living far away from home, the festival with traditional rituals such as tying a thread on the wrist, splashing water to bless... will help students feel the atmosphere of the New Year at home, ease their nostalgia and see the attachment and sincere affection from teachers, friends and people of Quang Ngai.

Mr. Vo Phien emphasized that the traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two Parties, two States and peoples of Vietnam and Laos, including Quang Ngai province and other localities of Laos, has been increasingly consolidated and developed. In recent years, the two sides have effectively coordinated in many fields such as education and training, agriculture , culture - tourism, national defense - security, etc.

Since 2008, universities and colleges in Quang Ngai have trained more than 800 Lao students, of whom about 300 have received scholarships. Many students have found stable jobs after graduation, making positive contributions to the development of the southern provinces of Laos. International students studying in Quang Ngai are a strong bridge that contributes to fostering friendship between the two countries, between Quang Ngai and Lao localities.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Vo Phien presented New Year gifts to Lao students studying at universities and colleges in the province. (Photo: Quang Ngai Provincial Information Center)

On this occasion, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province and the Department of Education and Training presented New Year gifts to Lao students studying at universities and colleges in the province.

On April 14, Son La Provincial Youth Union also organized a meeting with Lao students on the occasion of the traditional Bunpimay New Year with the theme "Cultivating the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos". Currently, Son La College, Tay Bac University and Son La Medical College are training 907 Lao students to study Vietnamese in many majors such as pedagogy, economics, tourism, information technology, medicine, etc.

At the meeting, Son La Provincial Youth Union commended and awarded Certificates of Merit to 35 Laotian students with outstanding achievements in studying, training and union and association activities. At the same time, the students also received Tet gifts, participated in the traditional wrist-tying ceremony, water-splashing ceremony and cultural exchange with Vietnamese youth union members.

Son La Provincial Youth Union awarded Certificates of Merit and commended outstanding Lao students. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

In recent years, Son La province has promoted comprehensive cooperation with 9 provinces of Northern Laos in many fields, in which education and training is a strategic cooperation content, bringing practical results. The province is especially interested in creating the best learning and living conditions for Lao students in the locality.

International youth work has also been effectively implemented by Son La Provincial Youth Union with many creative models such as: volunteer teams teaching Vietnamese; groups of Vietnamese students supporting Lao students in their studies and lives; awarding scholarships; organizing annual cultural and sports exchanges... Activities of visiting, working, and exchanging experiences between Son La Youth Union and Youth Unions of 9 Northern Lao provinces continue to affirm the close relationship and traditional friendship between the youth of the two countries.

These practical and meaningful activities are contributing to strengthening the connection and spreading the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, while enhancing the role of the Youth Union in accompanying and supporting international youth in studying and developing.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/am-ap-le-hoi-don-tet-co-truyen-cho-sinh-vien-lao-va-camuchia-212579.html