Connecting Vietnamese language guardians abroad
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, under Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently organized an exchange activity between the Vietnamese Language Ambassadors abroad in 2026 and the trainees of the Vietnamese language teaching training course for NVNONN teachers in 2026.
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| Deputy Head of the State Committee for NVNONN Nguyen Quynh Mai speaks at the exchange event. (Photo: Duc Hung) |
The program, chaired by Deputy Head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Nguyen Quynh Mai, was attended by the Vietnamese Language Ambassadors abroad in 2026 and the training course participants.
This event serves as a summary of the learning journey, professional exchanges, and provides an opportunity for Vietnamese language teachers abroad to share practical experiences in teaching and maintaining the Vietnamese language within the community.
According to Ms. Nguyen Quynh Mai, connecting teachers with Vietnamese Language Ambassadors abroad also helps expand the network of those directly contributing to maintaining the Vietnamese language in the overseas Vietnamese community. This work requires the perseverance of teachers, the support of parents, and the participation of the Vietnamese community in each locality.
Here, trainees had the opportunity to interact with the Vietnamese Language Ambassadors abroad in 2026 – individuals actively teaching, using, and spreading the Vietnamese language in various countries, thereby broadening perspectives on preserving Vietnamese in overseas Vietnamese communities.
Professor Shimizu Masaaki from Japan and Teacher Thich Phap Quang from Sri Lanka shared their views on the beauty of the Vietnamese language from the perspective of foreigners who are attached to this language. Their stories show that Vietnamese is not only a language connecting generations of Vietnamese but also attracts international interest.
From Australia, Ms. Tran Huyen Huong shared about a community activity that contributes to spreading the Vietnamese language. Meanwhile, Ms. Tran Ngoc Thao in France and Nguyen Thi Thu Hien in Denmark discussed the challenges of teaching Vietnamese to children born and raised abroad.
This is a challenge for many Vietnamese language teachers abroad, as children of the second and third generations often use the local language in their daily studies and communication. Therefore, maintaining the Vietnamese language requires methods suitable for the age, living environment, and needs of each student group.
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| The Vietnamese Language Ambassadors of 2026 share at the exchange event. (Photo: Duc Hung) |
In Taiwan (China), Nguyen Thi Lien Huong shared her experience in spreading the Vietnamese language locally, focusing on factors considered important for Vietnamese to be more frequently present in community life.
Stories from Japan, Sri Lanka, Australia, France, Denmark, and Taiwan (China) offer various perspectives on teaching and learning Vietnamese.
Each country has its own conditions, language environment, and community characteristics, yet teachers must find ways to create an environment where Vietnamese is used regularly and connected to daily life.
At the event, training course participants and Vietnamese Language Ambassadors had the opportunity to directly discuss issues arising in organizing classes, maintaining learning interest, and bringing Vietnamese closer to the younger generation of overseas Vietnamese.
Insights from various locations show that, alongside suitable teaching methods, creating an environment for using Vietnamese in families and communities is crucial for the language to be naturally and regularly maintained.
Notably, Tjin Le Konings, a Vietnamese Language Ambassador from the Netherlands in 2026, performed the song Bac Bling, offering a close approach to Vietnamese through music and culture.
This activity also demonstrates that preserving the Vietnamese language can be achieved through various creative forms, suitable to the interests and lifestyles of the younger generation.
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| Scene of the exchange event. (Photo: Duc Hung) |
From Vietnamese language classes to cultural, community, and family activities, every effort contributes to preserving Vietnamese in the lives of overseas Vietnamese.
Connecting teachers, Vietnamese Language Ambassadors abroad, and community forces will create more conditions to share experiences, support each other, and form a network of individuals with the common goal of preserving the Vietnamese language.
Through this, Vietnamese is not only passed down between generations but also continues to be a part of the identity and a bond connecting the overseas Vietnamese community with their homeland.
| On August 26, in Hanoi, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the External Relations Television Department, Vietnam Television, organized the Beloved Vietnamese Language Gala 2026 and the Ceremony to award the title of Vietnamese Language Ambassador abroad in 2026 to eight outstanding individuals, including: Professor Shimizu Masaaki (Japan), Tjin Le Konings (Netherlands), Nguyen Thi Lien Huong (Taiwan - China), Nguyen Thi Thu Hien (Denmark), Tran Ngoc Thao (France), Nguyen Phuong Chung (USA), Tran Huyen Huong (Australia), and Teacher Thich Phap Quang (Sri Lanka). |
