MOFA launches Day to Honour Vietnamese Language, seeks 2026 Vietnamese Language Ambassadors
WVR - On March 28, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, under Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), organized the Launch Ceremony of the Day to Honour Vietnamese Language within the Overseas Vietnamese community and the Program to Search for Vietnamese Language Ambassadors Abroad in 2026.
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| Delegates attending the event take a commemorative photo. (Photo: Minh Hang) |
Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Nguyen Trung Kien presided over the ceremony with the participation of about 40 representatives from various ministries, departments, language and cultural experts, overseas Vietnamese, and a large number of journalists.
The event was connected online to more than 150 locations domestically and internationally, including localities, Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, associations, and Vietnamese language teaching facilities worldwide.
In the opening clip, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that in recent years, the Day to Honour Vietnamese Language has deeply resonated within the Overseas Vietnamese community, contributing to strengthening cultural identity and connecting the younger generation of overseas Vietnamese with their homeland. The Deputy Minister expressed hope that Vietnamese will continue to be preserved and passed down through generations, becoming a cultural bridge and a channel to promote Vietnam's image to the world.
In his official speech launching the program, Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien emphasized that the Vietnamese language is a repository of national memories and a bond connecting generations of Vietnamese to their roots.
Preserving the Vietnamese language, especially among the younger generation of overseas Vietnamese, is essential for maintaining cultural identity and enhancing integration capacity. Reflecting on the past three years, the program has achieved many encouraging results: in 2025 alone, six Vietnamese Language Ambassadors were honoured, nine commemorative medals, and 12 Vietnamese Bookcases were awarded to the Vietnamese community worldwide.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang delivers a welcome speech. (Source: Organizing Board) |
Additionally, Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh, Chairman of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, passionately shared: “Vietnamese is the bond that connects overseas compatriots with the homeland. Without Vietnamese, there is no culture, and eventually, that connection will gradually disappear.”
On this occasion, on behalf of the Professional Council, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, officially announced the program to Search for Vietnamese Language Ambassadors Abroad in 2026, with a notable shift from a “competition” format to “searching and selecting” individuals with practical and outstanding contributions to spreading the Vietnamese language and culture.
Within the program's framework, various activities such as exhibitions, book launches, and presentations were organized by relevant agencies and organizations like the Vietnam Education Publishing House, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, External Television Department, Vietnam Television, Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, and the Global Network for Teaching Vietnamese Culture.
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| Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Nguyen Trung Kien speaks. (Source: Organizing Board) |
Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan also shared information about the diverse activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in 2026: Operating a free Vietnamese language teaching channel for overseas Vietnamese in 25 countries; organizing about 30 training courses on teaching methods for overseas Vietnamese teachers; implementing AI-driven products in teaching and learning Vietnamese; organizing national and international scientific conferences; and publishing a national report on teaching Vietnamese to overseas Vietnamese.
Continuing that spirit, a group of students from the university presented AI-driven products for building a Vietnamese language teaching and learning ecosystem, opening up a new and modern approach to language acquisition.
The digital learning ecosystem for teaching Vietnamese and Vietnamese culture includes learning Vietnamese through AI-driven music, TikTok videos exploring dialects, and the web game “Cultural Adventure”, helping learners connect language with cultural experiences.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh shares with the press. (Photo: Minh Hang) |
At the event, Vietnamese Language Ambassador 2023 in Malaysia Nguyen Thi Lien shared her persistent journey of spreading the Vietnamese language in the area, and Vietnamese Language Ambassador 2025, Le Nguyen Luu An introduced the initiative of building a “Vietnamese Bookcase” at Vinh City Vietnamese Restaurant in (Kuala Lumpur, creating a space for reading and practicing Vietnamese within the community, highly appreciated by representative agencies and overseas Vietnamese.
Luu An said: “The bookcase at Vietnamese restaurants is not just about culture but also a value for the community. Visitors here not only enjoy the cuisine but can also engage with Vietnamese language and stories. I believe every Vietnamese can become an ambassador bringing Vietnamese culture to the world.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam Education Publishing House and the External Television Department (VTV4), marking a continuation in bringing Vietnamese closer to overseas Vietnamese through television broadcasts.
Mr. Pham Vinh Thai, Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Education Publishing House, and Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha, Head of VTV4, reflected on the effectiveness of cooperation through programs Chao tieng Viet (Hello Vietnamese language) and Tieng Viet dieu ky (Wonderful Vietnamese Language), affirming their commitment to continue spreading Vietnamese in the new phase.
From the perspective of a learning material provider, Mr. Pham Vinh Thai spoke about the connecting role of Vietnamese books for the overseas Vietnamese community: “Each Vietnamese book given is a bridge connecting the homeland with those far away. Every activity today, from a class, a book, a television program, or a community bookcase, contributes to sowing the seeds of language, nurturing the Vietnamese cultural identity. Vietnamese will endure as long as it is spoken, heard, read, and written.”
Ms. Tran Thi Thu Ha also emphasized the effectiveness of television programs for the younger generation of overseas Vietnamese: “Through programs like Tieng Viet dieu ky, children can access their mother tongue in a lively, modern way that suits the reception psychology of those born abroad.”
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| Overview of the event. (Photo: Organizing Board) |
The event also marked a new step in innovating Vietnamese learning materials with the launch of the book series Vui hoc tieng Viet Volume 2 (Enjoy learning Vietnamese, Volume 2), edited by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Thuyet, with Volume 2 officially introduced. The series targets children aged 4-6 who are not yet familiar with the Latin alphabet, especially suitable for Vietnamese children abroad, applying a method of learning through group letter strokes to naturally approach listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
All language materials such as pronunciation, songs, and instructional videos are digitized via QR codes, making learning more flexible and convenient.
The Launch Ceremony of the Day to Honour Vietnamese Language and Search for Vietnamese Language Ambassadors Abroad in 2026 concluded with a strong message of determination from relevant agencies and the Overseas Vietnamese community to preserve, promote, and spread the Vietnamese language. With the collective effort of the entire society, Vietnamese will continue to be preserved, sustainably developed, and become a cultural bridge connecting the Vietnamese community worldwide.
