The opening ceremony of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2018 (Photo: Mai Lien/VOV5)

Addressing the opening ceremony at the Temple of Hung Kings in Phu Tho province on Thursday, Vu Hong Nam, Deputy Foreign Minister, said the annual camp has become a meaningful event gathering young Vietnamese people from around the world to return to their homeland to improve their mother tongue, their knowledge of the nation’s history, and their traditional culture.

Nam who is also Head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said: “I suddenly remember the verse in Do Trung Quan’s poem “Each person has only one homeland/As a child has only one mother. Homeland, the most scared word, reminds us of our origin and brings Vietnamese people from all over the world closer to each other.”

He went on to say: “In years gone by, each camp like this has offered an opportunity for youths abroad to get to know more about regions across Vietnam. Young Vietnamese expats are the “Ambassadors of Culture” linking Vietnam with other countries, promoting the friendship between Vietnam and the international community, and bringing Vietnam to a higher position in the international arena.”

Participants will engage in activities across 11 localities from the North to the South, through which they can have different experiences and lessons on the Vietnamese culture and history.

Since it was first held in 2004, the annual Vietnam Summer Camp has attracted about 2,000 young people from various countries and territories.