On the afternoon of February 23rd, at Minh Tran Garden (Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City), the Ho Chi Minh City Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front held a meeting to summarize and evaluate the results of people-to-people diplomacy and overseas Vietnamese activities in 2023. This was also an opportunity to meet and encourage overseas Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian students, and families participating in the "Vietnamese Families with Lao and Cambodian Students Studying in Ho Chi Minh City" program during the New Year.
Mr. Sounanthalath Loungtavan (left) at the Lunar New Year gathering organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front.
Sounanthalath Loungtavan (a final-year student at Nguyen Tat Thanh University) shared that she absolutely loves and enjoys the dishes cooked by her foster mother, Nguyen Thi Hang.
Because of his deep affection for Vietnam, Sounanthalath Loungtavan asked his parents (currently living in Vientiane, Laos) to let him go to Ho Chi Minh City to pursue a career in medicine. Sounanthalath Loungtavan also mentioned that he has a younger sister who is still living in Laos to study policing.
Sounanthalath Loungtavan, fluent in Vietnamese, said: "After studying in Vietnam for a while, the school announced a Vietnamese Family program for Lao and Cambodian students. At first, I hesitated, but then decided to register. Thanks to that, I had a wonderful experience. During the cultural exchange, I stayed at Ms. Hang's house the whole time; she cooks delicious food and changes the menu every day for us. I also really 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 the Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry and lives with his Vietnamese family in Thu Duc City. Speaking fluent Vietnamese, Tanh Bunterm said emotionally, "Thanks to the program, I have found my foster parents and family in Vietnam. This has become my second home, a place that has given me all the love and care of a biological family."
Tanh Bunterm stated that during their time living and studying in a foreign country, many Lao and Cambodian students faced numerous difficulties. However, the care and support from the government (both material and spiritual) helped motivate these students to strive and study.
"The program helped me better understand the care and love that the Vietnamese people have for Lao and Cambodian students. It was also an opportunity for me to learn more about Vietnamese culture and people," Tanh Bunterm said, expressing his hope that the program will be organized for many more years to give more young people the chance to come to Vietnam to study and exchange ideas.
Vietnamese families and Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City gathered for a New Year's reunion.
"My two children also helped me understand more about Lao culture."
Having adopted Lao students for the first time, Ms. Doan Thi Xuan Thao (residing in Thu Duc City) couldn't help but be moved as she recalled the days she lived like a family with her two adopted children (Lao students) throughout 2023.
"We often gather around the dinner table, participate in festivals together, and help our children understand more about the values of Vietnamese family. Through these conversations, my two children also help me understand more about Lao culture," Ms. Thao shared.
Ms. Thao said that, in addition to family activities, she often encouraged her adopted children to participate in local activities, learning more about the customs and traditions of Southern Vietnam and the country as a whole. For her, the days spent living with her adopted children are unforgettable memories.
Ms. Mai Thi Hoang Nga (residing in Phu Nhuan District) also stated that in 2023, she adopted two Lao students who were studying at Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
Ms. Nga took a commemorative photo with her children (Lao students) who are studying at Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
With a cheerful expression, Mrs. Nga excitedly called out to her children to take pictures in Minh Tran garden. "My children recently celebrated Tet (Lunar New Year) with my family, helping to wrap banh tet (traditional rice cakes) and wearing ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress). They have classes during the week, so the family gets together on weekends, goes out for meals, and participates in activities at the ward. Personally, I will support them in many ways so they can focus on their studies. Just recently, I gave each of them 2 million dong as a New Year's gift, like a scholarship. In 2022, I sponsored two male university students. They still keep in touch and call me all the time."
According to Mr. Ngo Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, in 2023, 67 Vietnamese families, 91 Lao students, and 14 Cambodian students participated 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, meeting with host families, learning about the university's training programs, and touring the learning, practice, and living areas of the students at the university.
The government also supported 67 families in sponsoring 105 Lao and Cambodian students with a total budget of over 470 million VND. With the love and care of Vietnamese family members, the Lao and Cambodian students experienced daily life with traditional Vietnamese family meals; learned Vietnamese through communication with their families; and went on sightseeing and vacation trips with their families.
These activities also aim to strengthen the traditional relationship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Ms. Tran Kim Yen, Chairperson 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 given the students the warm and loving feeling of a family, helping them to alleviate their homesickness. I hope this will also motivate the students to study better and contribute to the friendly relations between countries in the future," Ms. Yen expressed her hope.
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