Fukuoka - Where the heart remains

As I write these lines, I still feel the same emotions I had on that morning at the end of November 2022, when I set foot in Fukuoka to begin my term as the Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka, Japan.

Children, their families, and artists participated in creating a map of Vietnam at the 2024 Homeland Spring Festival in Fukuoka. (Source: Vietnam Consulate General in Fukuoka)

The entire southwestern region of Japan welcomed me with autumn foliage; Fukuoka city was ablaze with tulips and chrysanthemums. Sitting in the car from the airport to the office headquarters, my emotions were indescribable—a mixture of excitement and anxiety about the great responsibility ahead. I understood that every step, every word, every action plan carried the image and prestige of my country.

Fukuoka is known as "the most livable city in Japan," and the Kyushu region is the cradle of Japanese culture. As a port city and the western gateway to Japan, Fukuoka is the capital of the Kyushu region. Life there is peaceful and quiet, and the people are friendly and dynamic. Fukuoka is also home to the largest Vietnamese community in Kyushu, with over 25,000 people living and studying there.

I have begun a term of service, which is not just a period of work, but also a time where I and my colleagues have shared months of camaraderie, unity, dedication, and growth. We are proud that each step we have taken has contributed to deepening the Vietnam-Japan relationship, uniting the Vietnamese community throughout Japan, and nurturing the love in the hearts of those living abroad for their homeland.

From the early days to unwavering belief

In the very first month, I, along with other officials, met with, visited, and worked with nearly 10 Vietnamese associations in Kyushu and Okinawa provinces. Every handshake, every everyday conversation made me clearly feel the affection the people have for their homeland. Each face held countless stories of making a living, dreams for the future, and longing for home.

I was deeply moved by the simple, sincere stories shared by professors, doctors, students, engineers, and skilled workers—all young, their eyes shining with faith in the future. They instilled in me a fresh energy, giving me the motivation to work tirelessly, with a single desire: "How can we make the Consulate General truly a support system for overseas Vietnamese, a reliable bridge between Vietnam and Japan?"

Consul General Vu Chi Mai speaks at the seminar. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka)

My colleagues and I at the Consulate General are determined to work hard so that the Vietnamese community here can write glorious chapters in history, so that the image and name of Vietnamese people are respected and honored. Whenever I interact with the Governor and provincial government leaders on business trips, I always receive shared appreciation for the Vietnamese community – described as "intelligent, hardworking, humane, and they wish to expand human resource and student exchanges with Vietnam." These are not just polite compliments; in reality, Vietnamese people in Japan have made significant contributions to Japan's economic and cultural development. While there may be some "rotten apples," these cannot overshadow the position of Vietnamese people in the hearts of the local community and international friends living and working in Japan.

Diplomatic bridges

Over the past nearly three years, with the slogan "Trust - Efficiency - Sustainability," despite having only five members, we have worked tirelessly day and night to promote diplomatic, political , economic, and cultural activities, striving to expand cooperation with the Fukuoka government and the provinces of Kyushu, Okinawa, and South Central Japan. We have facilitated numerous bilateral investment and trade projects, and supported Vietnamese and Japanese businesses in finding partners for each other. In the past two years and six months, the Consulate General has welcomed and coordinated over 100 delegations at various levels from Vietnam to Kyushu, Okinawa, and South Central Japan, including three high-level delegations.

The Consulate General has organized more than 40 events promoting investment, trade, culture, and tourism; and has also promoted the transfer of high technology in fields such as semiconductors, regenerative biology, agriculture, environment, and clean water, along with hundreds of scholarships for doctoral and engineering training for Vietnam.

Consul General Vu Chi Mai, along with the Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture and leaders of Hanoi City, visited the booths at the Hanoi Festival in Fukuoka in November 2023. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka)

Every Lunar New Year, the Consulate General, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka, organizes the "Homeland Spring Festival," attracting thousands of participants. The lively sounds of Vietnamese drums fill the streets of Japan, and the vibrant ao dai dresses under the cherry blossoms spread the atmosphere of the Vietnamese New Year to the community and friends in Japan.

In particular, at the 2024 Homeland Spring Festival, more than 1,000 Vietnamese and Japanese people, dressed in Vietnamese traditional ao dai, formed a human map of Vietnam in Fukuoka's central park and sang the Vietnamese national anthem together. I saw tears of pride that were difficult to express in words. Despite the hardships, sleepless nights, and rain, the radiant smiles and warm handshakes from the participants made us understand that all our efforts were worthwhile.

Citizen Protection – Sleepless Nights

One of the areas of work that has impressed me the most is citizen protection. Over the past two years, the Consulate General has handled more than 500 cases related to the legal, labor, and educational needs of Vietnamese citizens. The phone rings late at night, reporting a Vietnamese worker in trouble, a Vietnamese citizen committing a crime… Consulate staff immediately contact the local police and the employing company to understand the situation and ensure the rights of the citizen are protected.

In the midst of a harsh winter, Consulate General officials and leaders of various organizations traveled thousands of kilometers to the earthquake's epicenter to meet with, encourage, and deliver essential supplies to the Vietnamese community and local residents in shelters. On some rainy afternoons during August storms, we went to the Fukuoka police station to assist a group of young tourists who were having trouble with their paperwork.

Delegates attending the 2024 Homeland Spring Festival in Fukuoka. (Source: Vietnam Consulate General in Fukuoka)

But there were also heartwarming moments, many handwritten letters, emails, and thank-you cards when consular staff provided free document translation as wedding gifts; when migrant workers came to process their paperwork even after working hours and were still served attentively; or when sincere thanks were sent from those returning from the brink of despair after an accident; when students were protected from fraud; and when workers received support in reclaiming their rightful rights after a long period of exploitation.

Handwritten letters, tearful eyes, or simply a sentence like, "Thank you, Consulate General staff, for not abandoning us," all become invaluable sources of encouragement, keeping us steadfast on our journey of protecting our citizens. Sometimes, the most important thing is not grand agreements, but timely and humane support and protection for our citizens. That is also the quiet happiness of those working in diplomacy.

Representatives from the Consulate General, along with associations, companies, organizations, philanthropists, and the Vietnamese community, donated to support the Japanese people in the earthquake-stricken area of ​​Ishikawa Prefecture. (Source: Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka)

Homepage for lasting connections

My term from 2022 to 2025 is coming to an end, but Fukuoka will forever remain in my heart. I am proud that we have made a small contribution to strengthening Vietnam-Japan relations and sown cultural "seeds" in the hearts of international friends.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the government and people of Japan, thank the Vietnamese and Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs for their dedicated support, and above all, thank the warm affection of the Vietnamese community in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Okinawa, and Central and Southern Japan who have accompanied me throughout this term. Each person, each story, is a piece of the puzzle that makes up the meaningful picture of this term.

Diplomacy requires not only reason and responsibility but also sacred love and unwavering dedication. Fukuoka, the beautiful city where I work, will always remain a profound memory, a place where I have poured so much passion and cherished so many moments.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/fukuoka-noi-trai-tim-o-lai-323901.html