Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harperhas sent an open letter to the local Vietnamese community, wishing themhappiness, the best of health and wealth in the Year of the Cat.
He described the Lunar New Year festival (Tet), which marks theoverseas Vietnamese custom of family and friend union, as a contributionto Canadian social development.
The Vietnamesepopulation in the North American country is estimated at 260,000 who areliving in 10 provinces and three territories and have created a specialcultural identity there.
The Vietnamesecommunities in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, France andTanzania have also celebrated Tet, enjoying preparation of foodspecialties such as square sticky rice and art programmes aboutVietnam .
The Vietnamese embassies in severalcountries have taken this opportunity to highlight relations betweenVietnam and these countries, to which, ambassadors said, the Vietnamesecommunities have made considerable contributions./.