Forum 'Vietnamese Language - Vietnam-Laos Bridge': Preserving roots, strengthening solidarity, spreading friendship
WVR - The forum is organized by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos in collaboration with the Global Network for Teaching and Preserving Vietnamese Culture (the Network) at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos.
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| Overview of the 'Vietnamese Language - Vietnam-Laos Bridge' Forum. (Photo: Chu Van) |
Participating from the Vietnam side were Mr. Dang Thanh Phuong, Deputy Head of the People's External Relations Committee, Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; representatives of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese. Ms. Vu Chi Mai, former Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka, Japan, co-founder of the Network.
Directly attending in Laos were Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam and Embassy staff; Mr. Nguyen Duy Anh, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Secretary General of the Global Vietnamese Language Teaching Network.
Representatives of Vietnamese associations and communities in Laos included Venerable Thich Minh Quang, Head of the Vietnam-Laos Buddhist Cooperation Coordination Committee, Abbot of Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane Capital; Mr. Le Van Mui, Member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane Capital; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, Vietnamese Language Ambassador 2023, Head of the Vietnamese Language Department of the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane.
Also present were experts and educators such as Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Thuyet, Dr. Nguyen Khanh Ha; representatives from Laos; leaders of the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane and nearly 300 teachers, parents, students, and overseas Vietnamese in Laos and international locations.
From the Lao government, there were leaders from the Lao Front for National Construction in Vientiane, the Vietnamese Language Training Centre at the Institute of Educational Science, Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos.
Nurturing Vietnam-Laos friendship
In the enduring flow of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, there are values that are not loud but always present as a deeply connecting thread.
For the Vietnamese community in Laos, the Vietnamese language is not only a means of communication but also a memory, an identity, a root, and a bridge between generations, between the community and the homeland, and between the two nations of Vietnam and Laos.
The forum "Vietnamese Language - Vietnam-Laos Bridge" with the theme "Honoring Vietnamese, Preserving Identity, Connecting the Future" was organized in this context, not only as an activity in response to the Day of Honoring Vietnamese in the overseas Vietnamese community but also as a forum rich in cultural diplomacy and national solidarity spirit.
Vietnamese language - The "soul" of identity and community connection
Speaking at the forum, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam emphasized that in the development history of each nation, culture is always the deepest foundation, in which language holds a special position. “Vietnamese language not only helps us communicate but also shapes how we perceive the world, preserves historical memories, and conveys the moral values of the nation across generations,” the Ambassador affirmed.
According to the Ambassador, for the overseas Vietnamese community, the Vietnamese language is the thread connecting generations, helping the younger generation understand their roots, thereby forming national pride. In Laos, where there is a special relationship with Vietnam, preserving the Vietnamese language is even more meaningful, not only maintaining identity but also contributing to nurturing the affection between the two nations.
Ambassador Tam also affirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos will continue to accompany and support the community in maintaining and developing Vietnamese language classes, connecting resources, and organizing practical activities to spread the value of the Vietnamese language.
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| Cultural performance. (Photo: Chu Van) |
The foundation of national great solidarity
From the perspective of great solidarity, Mr. Dang Thanh Phuong, Deputy Head of the People's External Relations Committee, Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, believes that the Vietnamese language is the special "glue" that binds the Vietnamese community worldwide.
According to him, with over 6 million Vietnamese living abroad, the Vietnamese language is a bridge for generations of Vietnamese to return to their roots, maintaining national identity in the context of integration. “Vietnamese language is not just a communication tool, but the soul, the cultural identity, the foundation to protect the unity and solidarity of the Vietnamese nation,” he emphasised.
From this perspective, preserving the Vietnamese language is not only a cultural task but also an important part of strengthening the great national solidarity - a factor that makes up the sustainable strength of Vietnam.
Vietnamese in Vientiane preserving the language
Sharing from practical experience, Mr. Le Van Mui, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane Capital, stated that for overseas Vietnamese, the Vietnamese language is not just a means of communication but a "sacred thread connecting each expatriate with their homeland and roots".
In recent years, with the support of relevant agencies and the efforts of the community, the movement to teach and learn Vietnamese in Laos has seen many positive changes. Many classes have been opened, and many cultural activities have been organized, contributing to igniting the love for the Vietnamese language among the younger generation.
However, he also candidly acknowledged the difficulties such as a lack of teachers, limited learning materials, and pressure from a multilingual integration environment. Therefore, the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane is determined to continue expanding classes, improving teaching quality, promoting cultural activities, and especially enhancing the role of the family, which is considered the "first and most sustainable Vietnamese language class".
Global connection, spreading the value of Vietnamese language
From a connectivity perspective, Mr. Nguyen Duy Anh, Secretary General of the Global Vietnamese Language Teaching and Vietnamese Culture Network, stated that before coming to Laos, the Network had implemented many activities in countries and regions with Vietnamese communities.
“The Network was born from the need to connect those who are keeping the Vietnamese language alive worldwide, so no one has to go alone, so experiences can be shared and effective models can be spread,” Mr. Nguyen Duy Anh shared.
According to him, in Laos, the Vietnamese language not only exists in classrooms but is also nurtured in cultural spaces, in the memories and emotions of the community, contributing to creating a special environment for preserving and developing the Vietnamese language.
Finding solutions to promote Vietnamese language in the community
One of the highlights of the forum was the in-depth discussion sessions, where not only managers and experts participated but also teachers, parents, students, and even young Lao learners of Vietnamese.
The stories from classrooms, from families, and from the learners' own experiences created a vivid picture of the current state of teaching and learning Vietnamese in Laos. From teachers persistently teaching under challenging conditions to parents striving to maintain Vietnamese in daily life; from Vietnamese students to young Lao enthusiasts learning Vietnamese, all have shown the natural vitality and spreading ability of the Vietnamese language in community life.
Not stopping at sharing difficulties, the discussion sessions also brought many effective models such as weekend classes, Vietnamese clubs, combining language teaching with cultural activities, reading, storytelling, and singing. Notably, the participation of Lao people in learning Vietnamese also shows that Vietnamese language is gradually becoming a more widely shared cultural value in the host society.
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| Delegates taking commemorative photos. (Photo: Chu Van) |
When love is materialized
In her presentation at the forum, Ms. Thong mi Du an sak ka, Director of the Vietnamese Language Training Center at the Institute of Educational Science - Ministry of Education and Sports of Laos, shared her process of learning and teaching Vietnamese, and now her entire family speaks Vietnamese.
Not stopping at exchanges, the forum transitioned from awareness to action with the launch of "Enjoy Learning Vietnamese - Together Building the Vietnam-Laos Bridge". This is a call for the entire community to participate in creating an environment for learning and using Vietnamese language naturally and sustainably.
The program also honoured teachers, parents, students, and exemplary groups - the silent "keepers of the flame" of the Vietnamese language. Additionally, the release of the book "Enjoy Learning Vietnamese" Volume 2 is seen as an important step in providing suitable learning materials, contributing to improving teaching and learning effectiveness.
Preserving roots, preserving the future
From the discussions at the forum, a common understanding has been affirmed: Preserving the Vietnamese language is not just preserving a language, but preserving identity, roots, and the connection of the overseas Vietnamese community.
It is a long journey, starting from the family, nurtured in the community, and continued by the younger generation. In the context of integration, when each individual can integrate into the world, the Vietnamese language is the anchor to not lose oneself.
The forum "Vietnamese Language - Vietnam-Laos Bridge" is therefore not just an event, but a message: As long as the Vietnamese language is preserved, loved, and passed on, the ethnic roots remain, and the Vietnam-Laos friendship will continue to be nurtured and strengthened through generations.
(Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Laos)
