(VOVWORLD) - An art exchange program called “Homeland Spring 2020” was held on Saturday, welcoming more than 1,500 overseas Vietnamese from all over the world, who have returned home for Tet, Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year. The program, hosted by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is highly anticipated event among overseas Vietnamese when Tet comes.
 Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh speaks at the Homeland Spring program |
Connecting overseas Vietnamese
This year’s program, held for the 12th consecutive year, welcomed the largest number of overseas Vietnamese ever. Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi, Deputy Head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said: “The Homeland Spring program means a lot to overseas Vietnamese. It shows the Party and State’s concern for the Vietnamese community abroad, who is considered an integral part of Vietnam. This is a time for overseas Vietnamese to return to their homeland to welcome Tet and attend the family gathering. The event promotes exchanges between overseas Vietnamese living in different countries. This is a time for overseas Vietnamese to express their feelings and aspirations to the Party, State and local leaders as well as to seek business opportunities”.
Tran Hai Linh, an overseas Vietnamese living in South Korea, said: “The annual program provides an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to come home to celebrate Tet with their families. Every time I return home I see its new developments. We are very happy. I believe that if we use the resources of overseas Vietnamese better, we will encourage them to contribute to the homeland.”
Inspiring Vietnamese spirit
Overseas Vietnamese attending the program enjoyed a traditional Tet through activities like calligraphy, Chau van ritual singing, and folk games. Nguyen Duc Thien, an overseas Vietnamese living in Italy, said: “Returning home gives me a special feeling. Nowhere else can compare with your homeland. On this trip, I visited Do temple in Bac Ninh province and attended a fish release ceremony, both of which were very meaningful to me.”
Nguyen Hoai Tien, an overseas Vietnamese living in the US, said: “Every time I return home, I learn more about the national culture and customs.”
Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh called on overseas Vietnamese to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture and spirit: “I call on Vietnamese people inside and outside the country to promote patriotism, solidarity, and national pride, and strive toward a prosperous, strong Vietnam on a par with other countries in the world. President Ho Chi Minh once said: Solidarity, solidarity, great solidarity, success, success, great success.”