The event is held annually on the threshold of the Lunar New Year (Tet) – the biggest and longest festival in a year of Vietnamese people – for outstanding Vietnamese people living abroad.

Officials and overseas Vietnamese delegates in a group photo at the Homeland Spring programme.

Many delegates said though living far from the homeland, they have nurtured their love of and maintained close bonds with the home country. Speaking at the event, Nguyen Ngoc Luan from Australia said with the wish to find a place for Vietnamese farm produce on the international market, his company (Meet More Coffee) has focused on coffee and gained certain success in introducing products from Vietnamese coffee to international consumers.

“Overseas Vietnamese always look towards the homeland and are proud of the nation. We hope that mechanisms in Resolution 98 will open up opportunities for us to contribute to the city and the country,” Luan said.

Tran Dinh Thang from the US noted the Vietnamese intellectual community in the US have great potential, so a suitable model to develop connectivity with OVs is needed in order to fully tap this resource for Vietnam’s development.

Dinh Vinh Cuong from Japan stressed that the traditional values and patriotism are the source of motivation for every OV to work to contribute more to the Fatherland’s prosperity.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of HCM City Phan Van Mai acknowledged the remarkable contributions of OVs to the city’s economic and social attainments in 2023. Sharing with the OVs the city’s development plans this year, he hoped OVs continue to make recommendations to the city and help connect the city with resources so that it can effectively implement those plans.

Carp release ritual on Kitchen Gods’ worshipping day marks start of Tet

The “Ong Cong, Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) worshipping ritual, held on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, which falls on February 2 this year, is also considered the start of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival - the biggest and most important traditional holidays of Vietnamese people.

Tet wishes extended to overseas Vietnamese

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs, has extended her best wishes to Vietnamese people living around the world on the occasion of the nearing traditional Tet (Lunar New Year).

Nearly 7.5 million workers receive Tet support

Nearly 7.5 million trade union members and workers across Vietnam have received support to have a better Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, according to reports by 74 out of 82 localities and units nationwide.

Vietnamese ethnic village launches activities to welcome Tet

The Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism on the outskirts of Hanoi will host a wide range of cultural activities in February to honour the cultural identities of Vietnamese ethnic groups, contribute to strengthening national unity, and bring traditional Tet flavours to visitors.

Traditional Tet rituals take place in Hanoi Old Quarter

A program entitled Vietnamese Tet – Old Quarter Tet celebrating Lunar New Year 2024 has opened at Kim Ngan communal house, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Source: VNA