On the afternoon of February 23, at Minh Tran Garden (Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City), the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City held a meeting to review the results of the implementation of people-to-people foreign affairs work with overseas Vietnamese in 2023. This was also an opportunity to meet and encourage overseas Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian students and families participating in the program "Vietnamese families with Lao and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City" on the occasion of the New Year.
Sounanthalath Loungtavan (left) at the Giap Thin Spring meeting organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front
Sounanthalath Loungtavan (final year student at Nguyen Tat Thanh University) said he loves and enjoys the dishes cooked by his adoptive mother Nguyen Thi Hang.
Because he loves Vietnam so much, Sounanthalath Loungtavan asked his parents (currently living in Vientiane, Laos) to let him go to Ho Chi Minh City to pursue a medical career. Sounanthalath Loungtavan said he has a younger sister who is still living in Laos to further her studies in the police profession.
Sounanthalath Loungtavan speaks fluent Vietnamese: "After studying in Vietnam for a while, the school announced that there was a Vietnamese Family program for Lao and Cambodian students. At first, I hesitated but then decided to register to participate. Thanks to that, I had a wonderful experience. During the cultural exchange, I stayed at Hang's mother's house the whole time. She cooked very well, and she changed the food every day for the children. I also love Vietnamese cuisine. Whenever I have free time, I go out to eat and drink at many places in Ho Chi Minh City with my Vietnamese friends."
Tanh Bunterm is one of the Cambodian students who came to Ho Chi Minh City to study in 2023. Currently, Tanh Bunterm is a student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry and lives with a Vietnamese family in Thu Duc City. Speaking Vietnamese clearly, Tanh Bunterm was moved: "Thanks to the program, I have my father, mother, and foster family in Vietnam. This has become my second home, a place that has given me as much love as my biological family."
Tanh Bunterm said that during their time living and studying in a foreign country, many Lao and Cambodian students encountered many difficulties. However, the attention and support from the government (both material and spiritual) helped the students have more motivation to strive and study.
"The program has helped me feel more clearly the love and care of the Vietnamese people for Lao and Cambodian students. This is also an opportunity for me to learn more about Vietnamese culture, country and people," Tanh Bunterm said, hoping that the program will be held for many more years to give many young people the opportunity to come to Vietnam to study and exchange.
Vietnamese family with Lao and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City gather for New Year
"My two children also help me understand more about Lao culture."
The first time adopting a Laotian student, Ms. Doan Thi Xuan Thao (living in Thu Duc City) could not help but be moved when remembering the days of living as a family with 2 adopted children (Laotian students) throughout 2023.
"We often gather around the dinner table, participate in festivals together and help our children understand more about Vietnamese family values. Through conversations, my two children also help me understand more about Lao culture," Ms. Thao shared.
Mrs. Thao said that, in addition to family activities, she often encourages her children to participate in local activities, to learn more about the customs and practices of the South and Vietnam. For her, the days living with her adopted children are unforgettable memories.
Ms. Mai Thi Hoang Nga (residing in Phu Nhuan District) also said that in 2023, she adopted two Laotian students studying at Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
Mrs. Nga took a souvenir photo with her children (Lao students) studying at Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
With an excited face, Mrs. Nga called her children to take pictures at Minh Tran garden. "My children recently celebrated Tet with my family, wrapping banh tet and wearing ao dai. They study during the week, so on weekends the family meets, goes out to eat, and participates in activities in the ward. Personally, I will support my children in many ways so that they can study with peace of mind. Recently, I gave each of them 2 million VND as a lucky money, like a scholarship. In 2022, I will support 2 male students. Now they still keep in touch and call me all the time."
Mr. Ngo Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, said that in 2023, 67 Vietnamese families, 91 Lao students and 14 Cambodian students will participate in the program "Vietnamese families with Lao and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City".
Families of Lao and Cambodian students also visited and interacted in Ho Chi Minh City, interacted with host families, heard about the university training program, visited the study, practice and student activities areas at the school...
The State also supported 67 families to sponsor 105 Lao and Cambodian students with a total budget of more than 470 million VND. With the love and care of Vietnamese family members, Lao and Cambodian students experience and live daily with traditional Vietnamese family dishes; learn Vietnamese to communicate with their families; go sightseeing and vacation with their families...
These activities also aim to strengthen the traditional relationship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia.
Ms. Tran Kim Yen, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City
Ms. Tran Kim Yen, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, sent New Year greetings to Vietnamese families and Lao and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City.
"Vietnamese parents have brought the children the warm, loving affection of a family, helping them ease their homesickness. I hope that this will also motivate the students to study better and contribute to the friendly relationship between countries in the future," Ms. Yen hopes.
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