Young overseas Vietnamese happy to visit their homeland

More than 100 young overseas Vietnamese from 31 countries and territories spent 14 days together, traveling through 10 provinces and cities, exploring lands rich in cultural and historical identity, and fostering love for their homeland.

The recent trip within the framework of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2025 organized by the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (Ministry of Foreign Affairs ) brought young overseas Vietnamese profound and emotional experiences. Through the journey, young overseas Vietnamese felt like they were returning to their roots. They not only learned about the history, culture, and people of Vietnam, but also felt more clearly the sacred connection with their homeland.

Journey to find the origin

On the morning of July 14, the first day of the journey, in Ho Chi Minh City, young overseas Vietnamese went to many places, visited historical sites and learned about the heroic struggle to defend the country. Taking their first steps, young overseas Vietnamese, dressed neatly and with a serious demeanor, went to Ben Nha Rong. Here, young overseas Vietnamese offered incense and flowers, held a moment of silence, expressing their deep gratitude for the merits and selfless sacrifices for the people of President Ho Chi Minh .

Young overseas Vietnamese on a visit to Kon Tum prison (Quang Ngai province)

Thai Thien Minh Hieu (far left), an overseas Vietnamese in Singapore, feels happy to return to Vietnam.

During the journey, young overseas Vietnamese did not forget to give meaningful gifts to disadvantaged children.

Next, the group went to the Ho Chi Minh Museum to listen to the explanation about the life and career of the beloved leader of the nation. This is not only the place that marks the event of President Ho Chi Minh's departure to find a way to save the country, but also a symbol of patriotism, self-reliance and the desire for independence and freedom of the nation. After that, the group went to many places in Ho Chi Minh City such as: Reunification Hall (former Independence Palace), War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels...

Sharing about her first visit to Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Vu Le Duyen (19 years old), living in Frankfurt (Germany), expressed: "I signed up for the summer camp to learn more about the country, people and history of Vietnam, because the previous times I only visited my family and had little opportunity to learn more. I also hope to meet and interact with young Vietnamese and international friends like me."

In April, Duyen watched the live broadcast of the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification on TV and was very moved when she saw a distant relative appear in the stands. That moment made Duyen even more proud and urged her to register for the summer camp so she could go there and see with her own eyes what her ancestors fought for and preserved.

Continuing the journey, the buses took overseas Vietnamese to the red basalt soil of Dak Lak and Gia Lai provinces, then Kon Tum ward (Quang Ngai province)...; or coastal areas along the length of the country such as: Quang Ngai, Da Nang...; stopping at Quang Tri province to offer incense and visit the tomb of General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Especially the moment the delegation visited the Kim Lien relic site, the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh in Nghe An. Young overseas Vietnamese learned more about the childhood years of President Ho Chi Minh in his hometown. Here, the delegation saw the simple thatched roof, the objects that were associated with Uncle Ho's childhood, and listened to touching stories about the time Uncle Ho lived in Sen village. In a solemn atmosphere, the delegation of overseas Vietnamese youth and students came to offer incense at the memorial house of President Ho Chi Minh in Kim Lien village, his paternal hometown.

By the morning of July 25, after a long journey from the South to the North, young overseas Vietnamese arrived in the capital Hanoi, the last stop on the trip. Overseas Vietnamese attended a discussion and interacted with officers and soldiers of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department (Ministry of National Defense). At the same time, the delegation visited President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs. In a solemn atmosphere, young overseas Vietnamese expressed their infinite gratitude and respectfully remembered President Ho Chi Minh's great contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation.

At the end of the journey, overseas Vietnamese Dang Minh Tam (Poland) shared that this was an impressive and memorable journey, going to many places, meeting many people, and a great opportunity for everyone to use Vietnamese. Minh Tam sent his thanks to the VN Summer Camp 2025 program because: "It gave me the opportunity to learn and connect more with my roots. Let me travel from the South to the North, set foot on new lands, explore famous landscapes, understand more about the country's history, the sacrifices and losses of previous generations to have a peaceful and independent Vietnam like today".

"Through this journey, I feel very clearly that no matter how long or how far I go, my homeland, my country and everyone will always welcome me with open arms. Returning to Poland, I will be very proud to introduce and spread to my friends about my homeland, a friendly, benevolent and developed Vietnam," Minh Tam shared more.

Meaningful gifts for homeland

In that meaningful journey from the South to the North, the lands that young overseas Vietnamese set foot on were not only to learn about history but also to send sincere love from far away to the poor people through gifts. The gifts were in kind and money collected by young overseas Vietnamese in different countries. Although not large, they were all sincere love sent to the homeland.

Young overseas Vietnamese visit traditional communal house in Kon Tum ward

Photo: Pham Huu

Do Nguyen Khanh Toan, an overseas Vietnamese in the US, gives a blanket to a disadvantaged child.

On July 16, a group of young overseas Vietnamese arrived in Buon Tuor B, Dak Lak province, which is rich in historical and cultural traditions. 110 overseas Vietnamese warmly visited and exchanged with the locals and ethnic minorities living here. The group presented 35 gifts worth tens of millions of VND to the people of Buon Tuor B; including support from the overseas Vietnamese delegations of the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and delegates of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2025.

Or when coming to Kon Tum (Quang Ngai province), young overseas Vietnamese also donated tens of millions of dong to children in difficult circumstances. Overseas Vietnamese delegations from Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary also sent gifts to share with the children.

Le Duc Tung, representative of the Russian expatriate group, expressed: "I feel very happy because I have supported and helped children in difficult circumstances. Of course, the amount of support is not much, but I hope that with that amount of money, the children can buy books, notebooks, and pens to study and develop."

Also during his visit to the traditional communal house in Kon Klor village, Kon Tum ward, Do Nguyen Khanh Toan, an overseas Vietnamese in the US, gave disadvantaged children in Kon Tum ward a very special gift. It was a warm blanket that Toan brought from the US to Vietnam. Toan shared: "In the US, every time I was late for school, I would cover myself with a blanket to keep warm, it helped me concentrate and do my homework more effectively. A month before returning to Vietnam, I always thought about disadvantaged children in my homeland and wanted to help. So this time, I brought a new blanket to give to the children."

Toan works part-time to earn money and then goes to the supermarket to choose a blanket of his choice. Before boarding the plane to return home, Toan carefully folds the blanket neatly in his suitcase. Although it is a small gift, the innocence of this overseas Vietnamese seems to light a fire of love, overcoming all geographical distances to connect them. In the future, Toan said he will try to help more disadvantaged children. "Maybe I will raise funds at school, calling on my classmates to join hands," Toan said.

Proud and always preserve Vietnamese culture

Having lived in Singapore for 10 years, Thai Thien Minh Hieu (22 years old) still often returns to Vietnam to visit his grandparents. However, this return is very special because Hieu has been to many places, experienced, learned and felt happier. During this long journey, Hieu enjoyed the most when he first visited Cu Chi tunnels. "Because that place is one of the great places during the resistance war. It was a memorable experience when I crawled into the secret tunnels and felt more clearly the hardships of my ancestors in the past. I feel grateful to live in a time of peace like this," Hieu said.

Tran Ha My (left) and Bui Xuan Nhi, Belarusian expatriates, learn about the country's culture and history.

Talking about his life in Singapore, Hieu said that his family always maintains the Vietnamese lifestyle. This young man still eats fish sauce, celebrates Lunar New Year, and decorates traditional meals such as braised pork with duck eggs, banh chung, etc. As for the community, Hieu often participates in traditional Vietnamese events at the Vietnamese Embassy.

"Those events, along with this return, have made me increasingly proud to be Vietnamese. Living in this happiness, I always feel a certain duty. In the future, I must return to serve my homeland," Hieu expressed.

Pham Gia Nam, an overseas Vietnamese from the Czech Republic, said he returns to Vietnam every year to visit his family. But every time he returns to the South, he feels the rapid changes in his homeland. Especially in Ho Chi Minh City, everything is developing rapidly, with metro, high-rise buildings, high-end urban areas, and wider roads. That is why Nam feels even more proud and loves his homeland every time he sets foot on the airport.

Nam said that in the Czech Republic, some young Vietnamese people have lost their roots, growing up in Western culture and have no concept of homeland. But Nam is different, this young man is clearly aware of his roots, especially traditional culture, personality, cuisine...

"At home, I never speak Czech with my parents or speak half English and half Vietnamese when communicating. I find it unnatural in the family. I only speak Vietnamese and have been like that since I was little," Nam said, adding that on this return, he was able to explore places his parents had never been to. Nam met friends from all over the world, increasing his patriotism and feeling happier each time he returned to his homeland.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kieu-bao-tre-hanh-phuc-khi-ve-tham-que-huong-18525082719031067.htm