Fatherland in the hearts of young overseas Vietnamese

QTO - Summer 2025 became more special with 110 young overseas Vietnamese living, studying and working in 31 countries and territories around the world participating in the Vietnam Summer Camp. The series of activities through many localities across the S-shaped strip of land contributed to more fully capturing the image of the Fatherland and strongly inspiring love for the homeland for young overseas Vietnamese to strive to study and contribute.

Proud of 2 Vietnamese words

Joining the journey with Vietnam Summer Camp 2025 to lands and places that were once devastated by war and bombs but have now become green and prosperous, many young overseas Vietnamese representatives, including Vu Phi Nhung (born 2003) exclaimed: "How beautiful our country is!".

Having lived in the Federal Republic of Germany since childhood, Nhung's knowledge of her homeland is largely based on information and images in books and social networks. Therefore, when she joined the members of the Vietnam Summer Camp journey along the length of the country and witnessed the beautiful scenery of her homeland, she was overwhelmed with happiness and pride. Nhung said: "Vietnam Summer Camp 2025 is truly a memorable experience when I was able to return to my homeland, learn and explore more about the history and culture of the nation. Understanding the value of peace today, my friends and I living all over the world must work harder to make our country famous."

Members of Vietnam Summer Camp 2025 take souvenir photos at Ho Chi Minh Square, Dong Hoi Ward - Photo: TP

With the theme “Continuing the story of peace”, this year’s Vietnam Summer Camp has gone through many localities across the country, organizing various activities such as: Paying tribute to ancestors and heroic martyrs; meeting and exchanging between overseas Vietnamese youth and overseas Vietnamese youth with domestic youth; learning about the history, culture, and traditional customs of the nation; visiting scenic spots, tangible and intangible culture of Vietnam.

During that journey, one of the places that left a strong impression on Mai Thanh Long, from the Czech Republic, was Quang Tri . Offering incense to the heroic martyrs resting at the Truong Son National Martyrs' Cemetery, she could not hold back her tears. Born and raised in a country more than 9,000km away from Vietnam, Thanh Long only knew about Vietnam through the stories told by her grandparents and parents every night. "My Vietnamese is not very good, but I heard and understood all the difficulties and hardships of the previous generation in exchange for today's peace. I was very moved when I visited the heroic martyrs resting here. When I return, I will tell my family and friends about a beautiful and developed Vietnam," Thanh Long said proudly.

Vann Bora respectfully offers incense at Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery - Photo: TP

“Continuing the story of peace” for young overseas Vietnamese

The Vietnam Summer Camp journey with Thai Thien Minh Hieu (born in 2003), currently living in Singapore, was an interesting and meaningful experience. Not only did he return to his homeland, he also learned more about the history, culture and people of Vietnam. “One of the most profound things I feel is the strong connection with my homeland. Although I was born and raised in Vietnam, I moved to Singapore with my family since I was young, so I haven't had the opportunity to travel to many places. Luckily, through this journey, I have the opportunity to travel across the country and see my homeland with my own eyes,” Hieu confided. Witnessing the strong changes and rise of Vietnam today, in addition to pride, Hieu also hopes to contribute a small part to the overall development of the country. He revealed that after this return trip, he will connect and introduce to friends where he lives about a Vietnam with rich space and hospitality. Hieu hopes that there will be more and more playgrounds for overseas Vietnamese youth and students to have the opportunity to return to their homeland and participate in domestic activities, especially start-up programs and investment capital contributions.

For young overseas Vietnamese, the story of the veterans' sacrifice is very attractive - Photo: TP

As for Vann Bora (born in 2006), a Vietnamese-American boy born and raised in the Kingdom of Cambodia, his heart is always filled with love for the S-shaped land. That is the reason why, faced with many choices, he still decided to study at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine (Ho Chi Minh City). "I want to use my intelligence and knowledge to serve and take care of the health of my fellow countrymen," Bora confided. Although he does not speak Vietnamese fluently, at school, Bora actively participates in many extracurricular activities and projects to promote exchange and cooperation between different cultures and communities. For him, the opportunity to participate in the Vietnam Summer Camp 2025 is extremely valuable. He went to know and understand more about his father's homeland, the land of his ancestors, the place he often heard through the stories and lullabies of his grandmother and mother.

Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Nguyen Trung Kien said: “With the theme “Together we continue the story of peace”, Vietnam Summer Camp 2025 is a message to the young generation of Vietnam, especially the young generation of Vietnamese people abroad, so that they can continue the heroic history of the nation, accompanying the country. This will be a valuable spiritual baggage, adding motivation for the young generation of overseas Vietnamese to continue writing the story of peace with love, aspiration and concrete actions, for a peaceful, developed and humane Vietnam”.

The Vietnam Summer Camp is an annual event organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in coordination with ministries, branches and localities. This is not only a playground for young overseas Vietnamese delegates to learn about the country but also an environment to educate the patriotic tradition of the Vietnamese people. From these experiences, the children will increasingly strengthen solidarity, together bringing the country to rise strongly in the era of integration and innovation.

Truc Phuong

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202509/to-quoc-trong-tim-kieu-bao-tre-cdf4b3a/