Young overseas Vietnamese across the country

In mid-July, 120 young overseas Vietnamese, representing the Vietnamese community in 26 countries and territories, gathered at the Vietnam Summer Camp 2023.

Young overseas Vietnamese participating in tourism activities in Trang An, Ninh Binh - Photo: Hung Thinh

For many young people, this is the first time they have set foot in their homeland, Vietnam.

The 16-day journey across 10 provinces and cities of the country, visiting scenic spots and historical sites and listening to many stories of national history, has deepened the connection between these young people and their homeland, Vietnam.

The Vietnam Summer Camp 2023 is an annual event organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (Ministry of Foreign Affairs ). This year marks the 18th edition of the event.

Thank you, my homeland, for extending a loving welcome to all my people. No matter where I go, the name Vietnam is a source of pride here."

Excerpt from the poem "Long Journey Across the Country" by Nguyen Huu Hung Thinh

Young overseas Vietnamese wearing traditional costumes visit the ancient capital of Hue - Photo: Hung Thinh

An emotional journey

For Nguyen Huu Hung Thinh (17 years old, a Vietnamese expatriate in Bulgaria), this is his first time returning to Vietnam to visit his family and also his first time visiting his heroic hometown of Ha Tinh. Hung Thinh's father was born in a bomb shelter during wartime, so when he arrived at Dong Loc Crossroads, Thinh couldn't hide his emotions and wrote these verses:

"Dong Loc, the legendary crossroads"

It's also my ancestral homeland, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia.

The sound of bells echoes through the mountains and hills.

Ten legendary girls, their names forever remembered..."

The poem "Long Journey Across the Country" was composed by the young boy right in the car and won second prize at the Young Vietnamese Talent Contest within the framework of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2023. Thinh decided to write poetry to enter the contest because his family has a tradition of teaching, and his grandmother and parents all love Vietnamese poetry. Through this poem, Thinh wants to express his love for his homeland and his gratitude for the heroic history of our nation.

"The summer camp taught me so much, especially solidarity and, more importantly, love for my country," Hung Thinh said.

Passionate about music, Nguyen Vu Hao has been teaching himself to play the zither (dan bau) for the past two years through online video tutorials.

Having left Vietnam for Australia when he was just a five-year-old boy, Vu Hao, now a 25-year-old young man, returns to his homeland with his zither as a tribute to the land where he was born: "For me, the zither speaks volumes about the Vietnamese people, from their strength in overcoming suffering to the perseverance of the Vietnamese people in developing the country to its current state."

The Vietnamese expatriate, dressed in a soldier's uniform, performed a poetry reading and played the zither, singing the song "Xa Khơi" by composer Nguyễn Tài Tuệ.

"When I hear this song, I think of a soldier far from home, defending his homeland and the freedom and independence of the nation," Hao shared. This emotional performance earned the young Vietnamese expatriate in Australia the first prize in the Young Vietnamese Talent Competition.

The Vietnamese community across five continents is renowned for its close-knit bonds. This spirit remains strong even though each young person was born and raised in different cultures; from their very first meeting, the Vietnamese blood flowing through their veins helps these young people connect.

Laughter filled the air as young people listened to Xoan folk singing in Phu Tho, danced the bamboo pole dance, walked on stilts, played traditional games in Thanh Hoa, or donned traditional Vietnamese costumes to "check-in" at the ancient capital of Hue.

Tears were shed during the farewell in Da Nang City, as the young overseas Vietnamese did not forget their promise to stay in touch and definitely meet again.

There were also emotionally poignant moments when the Vietnam Summer Camp journey brought young overseas Vietnamese to Quang Tri province, visiting Truong Son Cemetery, exploring the ancient citadel of Quang Tri, stopping at historical sites, and releasing lanterns on the Thach Han River to better understand the sacrifices made by their ancestors for the independence and peace of the Fatherland.

This year's program also raised nearly 200 million VND to honor Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, families of wounded soldiers and martyrs, support children at the SOS Children's Village in Thanh Hoa, and those in difficult circumstances at the Social Work Center in Quang Binh province.

The summer of 2023 became a beautiful memory for Thuc Anh, a 16-year-old Vietnamese expatriate who returned from Kazakhstan.

"We ate together, went boating, explored the beautiful scenery, and had a campfire. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to socialize," Thuc Anh recalled the trip.

Nguyen Huu Hung Thinh reciting the poem "The Long Journey of the Country" - Photo: Vietnam Summer Camp 2023

Returning to Vietnam to rediscover my roots.

Due to historical circumstances and the development over generations, many young overseas Vietnamese have gradually moved away from their roots. Each year, the Vietnam Summer Camp welcomes more than 100 young people back to their homeland, but millions more overseas Vietnamese also want to return and bring their children and grandchildren back to the land where their ancestors were born and raised.

Heritage tourism, visiting historical sites, and meeting historical witnesses to hear their stories of how Vietnam became the country it is today will help them rediscover and understand their roots and identity.

Although it wasn't her first time returning to Vietnam, it was only when participating in the Vietnam Summer Camp that Vu Hao truly felt a deep connection to her roots and origins.

"Previously, I felt I already had connections to the culture and was always proud to be Vietnamese. But now I feel my mind and vision are broader, and I have new motivations. Now I just hope to stay and contribute to programs that bring together Vietnamese expatriates or to make Vietnamese culture more present in Australia," Hao said.

"Come back to Vietnam" - that's the message Hung Thinh wants to convey to young overseas Vietnamese who haven't yet had the chance to return to their homeland.

"As a Vietnamese person, one must know Vietnamese history, the Vietnamese language, and the homeland of Vietnam. With a history spanning thousands of years, Vietnam is not inferior to any other powerful nation."

In recent years, Vietnam has ranked among the top 10 countries with the most trade with the US, surpassing Germany - one of the world's strongest economies. Coming to Vietnam will change your perception of your own homeland," Hung Thinh proudly shared.

Meanwhile, Ha Ngoc Khanh Linh (19 years old, a Vietnamese expatriate in Russia) was moved because although she has returned to Vietnam many times, each time she sees the changes and development of her homeland.

For those of you who haven't had the chance to return home, Linh sincerely hopes you will take the time to see your homeland, to fully appreciate the beauty of Vietnam and its people. For young overseas Vietnamese, these are things that "can never be fully conveyed through photographs or stories."

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ newspaper, Lanh Doktor-Nguyen (33 years old, a Vietnamese expatriate in Hungary) believes that more approaches and communication are needed to awaken the genuine feelings of young people, helping them feel that returning to their homeland is a gift, not just a wish of their parents.

"As a parent, I really want my children to return to Vietnam and I'm willing to spend money to give them the opportunity to learn about our national culture, as long as the program is reputable and recommended by a trustworthy person."

Overseas Vietnamese participate in volunteer activities at SOS Children's Village Thanh Hoa.

Young overseas Vietnamese - tourism ambassadors

The younger generation is the future and the face of the Vietnamese community abroad, while tourism provides a peaceful and tranquil environment that helps them feel the spirit of their homeland. Therefore, when summarizing the Vietnam Summer Camp 2023, Mr. Dinh Hoang Linh - Head of the Information and Culture Department, State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese - remarked: "No one can be a better tourism ambassador than young overseas Vietnamese."

The Vietnam Summer Camp 2023 has concluded, but it has sparked many ideas for young overseas Vietnamese to contribute to promoting their homeland. Throughout the journey, young people also learned about the concept of "safe tourism" in Vietnam after COVID-19, and understood how they can contribute to the country's economic development through tourism.

"I want to return to Vietnam and photograph its scenic landscapes to showcase the beauty of my country," said Hung Thinh, a young overseas Vietnamese with a passion for photography, excitedly. He revealed that he had long harbored the intention of creating an Instagram account to post his own photos of Vietnamese landscapes.

Furthermore, with his programming experience, creating a website to share these photos is also part of Hung Thinh's plan to become a tourism ambassador for Vietnam .

"I hope that my contribution to promoting Vietnamese tourism can help our country a little," Thinh told Tuoi Tre newspaper.

Meanwhile, artist Vu Hao wants to take the sound of the zither everywhere to tell the story of Vietnam to international friends: "I want to perform the zither on the streets of Australia and in many activities of the Vietnamese community so that both overseas Vietnamese and foreign friends can learn about the traditional music and culture of Vietnam," said Vu Hao.

Hao also hopes there will be more meaningful programs such as visiting Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and orphanages so that overseas Vietnamese can truly feel the love and support of their homeland.

When asked if she would like to return to contribute more to her country, Ha Ngoc Khanh Linh (from Russia) immediately replied that she would like to have the opportunity to live in Da Nang and contribute to its development in the future because it is a livable city with many delicious dishes and friendly people.

As a second-year student majoring in international economics, Khanh Linh is spending a lot of time researching economics and tourism to find ideas for introducing Vietnamese tourism to the Vietnamese community in Russia.

Nguyen Vu Hao, the winner of the Young Vietnamese Talent Contest.

A bridge between Vietnam and the world.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2023 in early August in Da Nang, Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese - expressed her belief that from this sweet journey of connecting with their roots, young overseas Vietnamese will become ambassadors, bridges between Vietnam and the world, continuing to send messages about a peaceful, friendly, and increasingly developing Vietnam that always extends its arms to welcome overseas Vietnamese. "I believe you have witnessed firsthand the changes and development of your homeland, learned about the historical traditions of our nation, and experienced the culture, cuisine, and music of many regions of our country. Our country is so beautiful, isn't it? Your support for disabled children, orphans, and underprivileged students demonstrates the spirit of mutual assistance and compassion, deeply rooted in Vietnamese humanism. Even though you live far away and may not have many opportunities to return to your homeland in the future, I believe you will still carry with you these precious traditional values ​​of the Vietnamese people," Ms. Thu Hang shared emotionally.

Young overseas Vietnamese participate in activities of gratitude and remembrance.

Young overseas Vietnamese participate in traditional Vietnamese folk games - Photo: Hung Thinh

Young overseas Vietnamese participate in traditional Vietnamese folk games. Photo: Hung Thinh

Young overseas Vietnamese release flowers on the Thach Han River to pay tribute to heroic martyrs - Photo: Hung Thinh

Young overseas Vietnamese visit a Heroic Vietnamese Mother in Quang Tri - Photo: Vietnam Summer Camp

Young overseas Vietnamese participating in activities of gratitude and remembrance - Photo: Vietnam Summer Camp

Young overseas Vietnamese are moved to tears during the farewell moment - Photo: Vietnam Summer Camp

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