More than 160 young Vietnamese expatriates taking part in the 2015 Vietnam Summer Camp paid tribute to the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the first nation in Vietnam’s history, in northern Phu Tho province on July 15.

Tran Thi Hoai Anh, an expatriate in the Czech Republic, said this was the first time she had come to Phu Tho, previously known as Phong Chau where Hung Kings settled and established Van Lang – the first nation, and it was her honour to express gratitude to them there.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Phan Bao Linh from Ukraine said the participants are proud of their Vietnamese origin and always turn their heart towards the homeland. The Vietnamese-Ukrainian also promised to contribute to the homeland’s development in the future.

Hoang Manh Hung, an expatriate in Poland who is studying in the US, said his return to Vietnam this time around helped him understand more about traditional values and join hands with other overseas youth in maintaining the country’s cultural identities.

The expatriates’ visit to the Hung Kings Temple was meant to help them gain insight into Vietnam’s history and nurture a warm sentiment towards the nation, said Le Quoc Thinh – Vice Chairman of the Foreign Ministry’s State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese.

Most of the youth, aged between 16 and 25, are students with outstanding academic results, sport and cultural achievements and community contributions. They come from 21 countries in Asia, Europe and America, he noted, adding that the summer camp aims to affirm that the overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of Vietnam, a crucial resource and a bridge linking the country with the world.

The 2015 Vietnam Summer Camp, themed “Proud of Vietnam”, is being held from July 13-31 and will take participants to renowned destinations from the north to the south of the nation.-VNA