Overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) across the world are always eager to enjoy a traditional New Year Festival (Tet) and a State-sponsored programme whenever the nation’s biggest holiday comes.

Vice Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, who chairs the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese, said that the “Homeland Spring” programme has become a venue for Viet Kieu to celebrate Tet with their fellow locals and recall their fine cultural traditions. It is also an opportunity for them to recall their origins and re-ignite their patriotism while working abroad, said the senior official.

The programme this year took place on January 28, just five days away from New Year’s eve, which was earmarked with a ritual carried out by the State President at the Kinh Thien (Respect to Heaven) Temple inside the Ancient Thang Long (Hanoi) Citadel.

Ngo Thu Thuy from Hungaria, who was among of over 1,000 Viet Kieu present at the event, said that just like any one who is away from home for long, she always feels touched at the moment she sets foot on the soil of her native land.

Thuy said every year soon after celebrating the solar New Year festival, her family packs in preparation for their journey back to Vietnam.

Vice President of the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic Nguyen Duc Canh said that the Vietnamese in the Czech Republic are always ready to contribute to national development in their home country. He added that they look for new opportunities to visit and invest in Vietnam in the future, especially after the recent successful Party Congress.

The overseas Vietnamese population is estimated at 4 million in over 100 countries and territories worldwide./.