Hanoi (VNA) – The Homeland Spring Festival 2026 was held by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen, Thailand, featuring a wide range of cultural activities that attracted a large number of overseas Vietnamese, particularly from the Northeastern region.
The main ceremony on February 12 evening drew about 1,000 expatriates along with leaders from provinces such as Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Nong Khai.
Speaking at the event, Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh highlighted Vietnam’s strong socio-economic achievements in 2025, with GDP growth estimated at 8.02%, GDP per capita reaching 5,026 USD, and the economy expanding to 514 billion USD, placing the country among the world’s 32 largest economies.
He said the festival also conveyed a message celebrating the success of the 14th National Party Congress and expressed confidence that the Vietnamese community in Thailand will continue to promote patriotism, unity and contributions to national development.
Participants shared emotional moments at the gathering, saying the event helped them reconnect with traditional Tet customs and maintain close ties with the homeland despite living abroad for decades.
According to Ho Van Lam, President of the Vietnamese Association in Thailand, the community has remained united across generations, integrated well into the local society while preserving the Vietnamese language, traditions and cultural identity. Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Thailand have also played an important role in job creation and served as a bridge for trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Highlights of the festival included a "banh chung" wrapping and cooking contest with teams from Northeastern provinces, an "ao dai" performance and the launch of the Vietnamese Ao Dai Heritage Club for the region.
Artists from Ho Chi Minh City also delivered special performances celebrating the homeland and national traditions, further strengthening community bonds and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand./.
