HCM City: youth camp promotes pride in national seas, islands hinh anh 1Sixty overseas Vietnamese from 10 foreign countries joined local youths in an annual youth camp themed “Proud of National Seas and Islands” in Ho Chi Minh City.  (Source: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Sixty overseas Vietnamese from 10 foreign countries joined local youths in an annual youth camp themed “Proud of National Seas and Islands” in Ho Chi Minh City on July 23.

The event, co-organised by the municipal Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and the city’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, will last until July 26.

The programme features a visit to a children’s care centre in Go Vap district, a cooking class of Vietnamese food at the Saigontourist Hospitality College, and an exchange with personnel at the Submarine Brigade 189 under the Vietnam People's Navy. The youths are also scheduled to have a tour of the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

Overseas participants come from Cambodia, Laos, the US, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Ukraine, Canada, and Poland.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Phung Cong Dung, head of the municipal Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, expressed his delight over the growing number of Vietnamese who have lived and studied in other countries now returning back to their home country.

He noted the camp offers an opportunity to connect Vietnamese expatriate communities from different corners of the world.

Lueng Ylang, a Vietnamese Cambodian, said this is the third time she has taken part in the youth camp programme.

She said she and her friends have visited famous destinations in Vietnam and participated in various social activities, and expect to gain some new friends who also share her Vietnamese diaspora identity after the camp this year.

She noted the programme has helped to foster feelings of national pride that overseas youths have for their home country. –VNA
VNA