The Association of Vietnamese in Bangkok hosted a get-together to celebrate the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) with the participation of nearly 500 overseas Vietnamese.

They were joined by a delegation from the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs led by Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the committee Nguyen Thanh Son.

The celebration of Tet is a regular activity of the Association of Vietnamese in Bangkok, creating a chance for Vietnamese living in Thailand to meet and exchange, thus promoting the bond among the community, said Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Chairman of the association.

Since its establishment, the Association of Vietnamese in Bangkok has focused its attention on preserving the national identity. Besides activities to celebrate Tet and Vietnam’s National Day, the association has opened a Vietnamese class for the community in Thailand, and raised donations to help Agent Orange/dioxin victims and flood victims in Vietnam.

Earlier, the Association of Vietnamese in Udon Thani province also held Tet celebration with the participation of Thai Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, Governor of Udon Thani province Seni Chittakasem, along with thousands of overseas Vietnamese.

Speaking at the celebration, Seni Chittakasen said Thailand and Vietnam are the two neighbouring countries bounded by traditional friendship. In the next three years, this relation will become even closer with the formation of an ASEAN Community.

He praised the contributions made by Vietnamese people in Thailand to his country’s national development and society.

Udon Thani is home to around 100,000 people of Vietnamese origin.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs cum Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son also attended the event.-VNA