Ha Noi (VNA) – Most of Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese) youths participating in the Viet Nam Summer Camp 2007 have expressed their wish to come back to their homeland to work for national development.
Talking with the Viet Nam News Agency, Le Thuy Duong from the Ukraine said emotionally that: “I was really moved while visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum. I already read several poems in his “Nhat ky trong tu” (Prison’s Diary) collection. My parents have always reminded me to read Vietnamese literature works to be immersed in the culture of the Vietnamese.”
According to Duong, the camp was a chance for participants to meet with young people of Vietnamese origin from different countries, and study Viet Nam’s history and culture.
Duong, who is now President of the Vietnamese Students’ Association in Kharkov city where around 3,000 Vietnamese nationals are living, said “I hope to return to Viet Nam after finishing my study to contribute to national construction.”
Nguyen Quoc An from Bulgaria confided that: “Participating in the summer camp is an award for my schooling accomplishments. Coming back to Viet Nam after 12 years, I have felt like at home as I met many friends.”
Asked about his feelings when visiting Uncle Ho’s Mausoleum and Home, An said “I was deeply moved. In Bulgaria, I read a lot of books and heard songs about Uncle Ho who devoted his life to the country.”
He added that: “I first returned to Viet Nam when I was four years old. While in Bulgaria, I often watch programmes broadcast by Vietnamese TV. I found that Viet Nam has developed strongly and hoped that with our contributions Viet Nam will catch up with other countries in the world.”
Like An, Dinh Hong Van, an ophthalmological student at Sydney University (Australia), also wants to return to the homeland to help the Vietnamese.
”I asked many people about job opportunities in Viet Nam and planned to come back to the homeland for work when possible,” she said.
Born in Germany, Chi Thanh, an IT student from Berlin University, is rather good at speaking Vietnamese.
Sharing his feelings about Viet Nam, Thanh said: “I am very happy to take part in the summer camp for the first time, meeting with friends and practicing Vietnamese. I hoped that the trip will help me better understand Viet Nam’s history and culture.”
During the event, participants, including 60 young overseas Vietnamese from 22 countries as well as local youngsters, participate in a wide range of activities such as offering incense at the Hung Temple in northern Phu Tho province and visiting Ha Long Bay in northeastern Quang Ninh province where they meet with local young people.
They also help flood victims in Hoa Vang district, central Da Nang city, and visit some beauty spots and historical sites in Ho Chi Minh City.
The camp, organised by the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, runs though July 31.-Enditem |