[Photo] Overseas Vietnamese in France and the journey of patriotism

The gathering took place at the Vietnamese Cultural Center in France. Attending the event were Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang and Ambassador-Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to UNESCO Nguyen Thi Van Anh along with many generations of overseas Vietnamese.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Vuong Huu Nhan, Chairman of UGVF (before 1976, the Association of Overseas Vietnamese) said: The victory on April 30, 1975 marked a brilliant milestone in the resistance war against the US to save the country, and was the result of the strength of great solidarity of the entire Vietnamese people, including the contribution of the Vietnamese community in France.

Although not directly participating in the fierce battles, members of the Vietnamese Association in France stood side by side with the nation through anti-war movements, and actively participated in activities to support Vietnamese delegations participating in the Paris Agreement negotiations from 1968 to 1973.

April 30, 1975 marked the end of the Vietnam War, the longest war in the history of the 20th century. It was the end of 30 years of pain, separation and loss, and also the result of the courage, sacrifice, solidarity, determination and intelligence of the Vietnamese people.

Every stage of the country's history bears the mark of the Vietnamese community in France, such as the engineers who raised the red flag with a yellow star in military bases, supporting Uncle Ho's Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945; those who returned to the North in the period 1956-1959 after the Geneva Agreement to rebuild the country; those who returned to Saigon in the period 1972-1975; as well as those who stayed or were born in France and have always accompanied the struggle of compatriots in the country for many decades.

Generations of overseas Vietnamese gradually grew up, after 50 years since the country's reunification, to truly understand the great significance of the historic April 30th and the silent but great contributions of all those who devoted most of their lives to that ideal. Overseas Vietnamese in France have together written a glorious page of history for the Vietnamese community in France, with a spirit of solidarity, attachment, and loyalty to the ideal of independence, freedom and national unity.

The Association of Vietnamese in France (UGVF) always strives to unite each member, from retired seniors to young people, youths and children, to continue to build a strong, united, well-integrated community, oriented towards the homeland, preserving the traditional values ​​of the nation and becoming a cultural bridge between France and Vietnam.

UGVF President Vuong Huu Nhan emphasized: April 30, 2025 marks 50 years of the country's development in peace . The Vietnamese Association in France believes in the rising era of a modern, democratic and prosperous Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang expressed his gratitude to generations of overseas Vietnamese in France, as well as peace-loving French friends, who have always been close to and accompanied the Vietnamese people in the struggle for independence and national reunification. Each member of the Vietnamese community in France has made certain contributions to the cause of protecting and building the country, stemming from their love for their homeland, their roots and the spirit of solidarity.

Vietnam is moving towards 3H: Hope, Peace and Reconciliation. The contributions of overseas Vietnamese in France towards their homeland will combine with the strength in the country to build a Vietnam that gradually enters a new era - the era of national development - in accordance with the policy set forth by General Secretary To Lam .

With great contributions to the cause of national liberation, the Vietnamese Association in France was honored to receive the First Class Independence Medal from the Party and State.

In the emotional atmosphere of the meeting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, the children living far away from home who once participated in the patriotic movement, now with gray hair and slow steps, once again relived together the unforgettable memories of a time of passionate youth, devoted to the Fatherland. As before, all the uncles, aunts and uncles carried in their hearts the ideals and enthusiasm for the homeland.

The moment of joy when hearing the news that the South was completely liberated and the country was reunited is a memory that will forever be engraved in the minds of overseas Vietnamese. The bright smiles and joyful footsteps bustling on the streets of Paris, joining with peace-loving French friends. The slogans "Vietnam wins" and "Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh" were chanted, a vivid testament to the long-standing aspirations of patriotic overseas Vietnamese spreading throughout the streets of Paris and many other places in France.

According to living witnesses, in a distant foreign land, many overseas Vietnamese quietly worked in secret with difficulties and hardships to support the struggle for national liberation in the country. Their voices were choked, but their eyes were also full of pride when each member of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the past was a "strong" link in the patriotic movement that contributed to the Great Victory of Spring 1975. It was even more joyful when generations of overseas Vietnamese saw the country changing every day and rising strongly in the international arena.

For many generations of Vietnamese people in France, the years of contributing to the struggle for national liberation are like a song of youth living their lives for the Fatherland. That spirit remains steadfast in the hearts of overseas Vietnamese, becoming a source of motivation for each person to continue contributing to the homeland, in one way or another, in all areas of life and, above all, to build a united community, imbued with identity, integrated with the host country, but not forgetting its roots.

The special supplement of Nhan Dan Newspaper commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country on April 30th helps generations of overseas Vietnamese in France look back at important milestones in the Ho Chi Minh Campaign. The information and vivid images are a "meaningful gift" for overseas Vietnamese at the meeting. With the signatures on the special supplement of Nhan Dan Newspaper, overseas Vietnamese who participated in the resistance war against the US to save the country hope that the brilliant milestones in the history of building and defending the country of the Vietnamese people will forever shine and be the pride of the Vietnamese community in France.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/anh-kieu-bao-tai-phap-va-hanh-trinh-cua-long-yeu-nuoc-post877295.html