Two Vietnamese-American Congressmen: 'We must do something for Vietnam'

Sharing with Tuoi Tre, two Vietnamese-American congressmen Stephanie Do and Ken Pipatchaisiri affirmed that they are very proud and want to contribute to their homeland Vietnam.

Mr. Tran Van Kieu walking on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City and Ms. Stenphanie Do - Photo: NGOC DUC - VNA

Among the 100 outstanding overseas Vietnamese attending the Spring Homeland program in Ho Chi Minh City this year, there are two special characters. They are Ms. Stephanie Do - the first female French parliamentarian of Vietnamese origin and Mr. Tran Van Kieu (Ken Pipatchaisiri) - a member of the Thai National Assembly. Sharing with Tuoi Tre, both Vietnamese-origin parliamentarians affirmed that they are very proud and want to contribute to their homeland Vietnam. Vietnamese-origin parliamentarian is proud to be a bridge between Vietnam and France Although she moved to France with her family in 1991, Ms. Stephanie Do always yearns for her homeland. When running for the French National Assembly, she affirmed that she always put Vietnam on her agenda. During her 5 years working in the local legislative body (2017 - 2022), she has always been proud to be a bridge between the two countries. "The partnership between the two countries depends on whether parliamentarians want to promote it or not. During my term, I promoted it very strongly. When General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited French President Emmanuel Macron, I participated in the reception. When other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders visited France, I was also present. When Prime Minister Édouard Philippe visited Vietnam, I also returned home. There must be parliamentarians who can promote that relationship," she shared. Even now, Stephanie Do still regularly informs the French president about Vietnam's development after each trip back to her homeland. "My dream is to contribute to both France and Vietnam, because I am French of Vietnamese origin. Stephanie finds that a source of pride. I am proud to be a Vietnamese woman," she shared.

Coming from an intellectual family, with the late teacher and patriotic cultural celebrity Do Quang Dau, Stephanie Do really wants to continue the family tradition. "My ancestors have contributed to the country. Not knowledge for themselves, but knowledge to expand for the people. I believe that I have had the desire to contribute in my blood for a long time, but because I am far from home, I have not had the conditions. And when I had the opportunity, that desire returned to my mind," she confided.

"Must do something for Vietnam"

Mr. Tran Van Kieu (Ken Pipatchaisiri), a member of the Thai National Assembly, was born and raised in Udon Thani city, with a Vietnamese mother. This is the place where the largest number of Vietnamese expatriates live in Thailand, and is also where the first Vietnamese neighborhood in the world was born. Mr. Kieu shared with Tuoi Tre: "Overseas Vietnamese in Thailand used to have a difficult time, not really being respected. However, in recent years, when Vietnam's economy has developed strongly and the world is changing, our young generation can step out and tell the world that we are proud to be Vietnamese." Mr. Kieu affirmed that young overseas Vietnamese in the world still possess the resilient blood of the Vietnamese people. All are enthusiastic, intelligent and are present all over the world. "Vietnamese people already have patriotism and solidarity. The Vietnamese government can encourage more overseas Vietnamese to return home to contribute to the motherland, especially in areas such as infrastructure and education," he said. In response to the news that the Vietnamese government is calling on overseas Vietnamese to invest in their homeland, the Thai-Vietnamese lawmaker affirmed that this would be a driving force for the country's rapid development, while also creating conditions for overseas Vietnamese to remind themselves of their homeland. Talking about his future plans, the Thai-Vietnamese lawmaker said that when he first came to Vietnam at the end of 2023, he felt something awakening in his heart and realized that he had to do something for Vietnam. "I am currently a member of the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Committee of the Thai Parliament. We cannot do much yet because the parliament has just been established. In the future, we will develop relations between the two parliaments, organize cultural exchange activities, and have exchanges at the ambassadorial level to see what Vietnam and Thailand can support each other in the future," Mr. Kieu shared.

The fate of an overseas Vietnamese in America

Sharing with Tuoi Tre on February 2, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, told a special story about her relationship with an overseas Vietnamese who is currently a doctor in the US. That is Mr. Nguyen Duong Phuong (born in 1979) - professor, surgeon, head of the pediatric plastic surgery department, co-director of the cleft lip and palate program, Colorado Children's Hospital - founder of the Nuoy charity project in Southeast Asian countries. Born in a refugee camp, after moving to the US and achieving many successes in life, Dr. Phuong established a charity organization for maxillofacial surgery for children. At the same time, he also spent time collaborating with a hospital in Vietnam. By chance, when Deputy Minister Thu Hang shared with him about the visa exemption policy for people of Vietnamese origin, along with an invitation to attend Xuan Que Huong, he was extremely excited and decided to return to his homeland. His presence at the program is a testament to the solidarity and love of the overseas Vietnamese community for their homeland. According to Deputy Minister Thu Hang, the highlight of the entire Homeland Spring 2024 event is the art exchange program on the evening of February 2 at Thong Nhat Hall. The program is an affirmation of the great strength of national unity and national harmony, bringing a warm Spring atmosphere, recreating the sacred moment when people return to their hometowns to celebrate Tet, reunite, review the past and learn from the present, forget the worries of the old year and look forward to a new year full of hope and new spirit.

Ngoc Duc - Tuoitre.vn

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