Summer Camp connects young generations with their roots in Ho Chi Minh City
WVR - On the morning of August 25, at the Ho Chi Minh Statue area on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, the Office of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City organized a flower offering ceremony and the opening of the 19th Summer Camp for Overseas Vietnamese Youth and City Youth in 2026 with the theme "Proud of the City Named After Uncle Ho".
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The Summer Camp gathers 50 young overseas Vietnamese, international students from 17 countries and territories, along with outstanding students from the City.
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| The delegation takes a photo at the Ho Chi Minh Statue area on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. |
Nurturing Love for the Homeland
In his opening speech, Mr. Truong Van Thoi, Deputy Chief of the Office of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, welcomed 50 young overseas Vietnamese campers returning from 17 countries and territories, along with outstanding students from the City participating in the 19th Summer Camp.
According to Mr. Truong Van Thoi, this year's event is organized to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Saigon - Gia Dinh officially being named after President Ho Chi Minh and to celebrate National Day on September 2. It is the first practical action program of the City to respond to and concretize Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW dated August 2, 2026, of the Politburo on work related to overseas Vietnamese in the new situation.
Mr. Truong Van Thoi stated that through the Summer Camp, young people have the opportunity to interact, meet, exchange, and learn from each other; share the unique cultural features of each country where they live, while also enhancing and completing their communication, group activity, and Vietnamese language skills.
The organizers hope the program will go beyond a typical tourist trip, providing educational and humanitarian values to the young overseas Vietnamese generation. This will nurture their affection for Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, motivating them to continue returning to visit their homeland.
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| Mr. Truong Van Thoi, Deputy Chief of the Office of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, delivers the opening speech. |
Mr. Truong Van Thoi urged the campers to strictly adhere to the rules, enhance their sense of discipline, self-awareness, solidarity, and mutual support, contributing to ensuring a safe and successful Summer Camp. The organizers and coordinating units are requested to uphold a spirit of responsibility, coordinate synchronously, and take good care of the campers throughout the journey.
Representing the young overseas Vietnamese, Ms. Dang Tu Quynh, President of the Vietnamese Youth and Students Association in Japan (VYSA), expressed her honour and emotion at being able to return to the homeland with young Vietnamese from many parts of the world.
Ms. Dang Tu Quynh thanked the City People's Committee, the Office of the City People's Committee, and relevant agencies for their dedication and efforts in organizing the Summer Camp, thereby contributing to building a bridge connecting the young overseas Vietnamese generation with their homeland.
According to the representative of the young overseas Vietnamese, although born and raised in different countries, carrying diverse cultural experiences from their host countries, deep down, every Vietnamese child still looks towards their roots. Programs connecting young overseas Vietnamese with their homeland are meaningful in nurturing love for the country, awakening national pride, and preserving cultural identity.
Returning from all corners of the world to the common home of Vietnam, the young overseas Vietnamese generation carries the aspiration to contribute and connect. The Summer Camp is an opportunity for young people to improve their Vietnamese, learn about history, witness the country's development firsthand, and strengthen ties with the youth in the country.
The VYSA representative called on the campers to actively participate in the program's activities, from cultural exchanges to gratitude and volunteer activities, thereby spreading the spirit of solidarity and gratitude towards previous generations.
Gathering young overseas Vietnamese from 17 countries and territories
The 19th Summer Camp for Overseas Vietnamese Youth and City Youth takes place from August 25-29, with the participation of 50 delegates aged 12-25, including 30 female and 20 male delegates, returning from 17 countries and territories.
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| The Summer Camp gathers young overseas Vietnamese from 17 countries and territories. |
The delegates come from Japan, France, Singapore, Czech Republic, Germany, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan (China), Laos, Cambodia, Belgium, Iceland, China, Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.
On the first day, after the opening ceremony on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, the campers will visit the National Historic Site Nga Ba Giong to offer incense, flowers, and learn about history. The delegation will continue to offer incense at Le Thi Rieng Park and interact with the City's Traditional Resistance Club.
From August 26-28, the delegation will move to Con Dao to explore historical sites such as the Con Dao Museum, Phu Hai Prison, the Isolated Cow Shed Area, and the French/American Tiger Cages system.
Journey of “Gratitude to the Source”
“Gratitude to the Source” activities are identified as the central theme of the Summer Camp. On the evening of August 26, the campers attend a candlelight gratitude ceremony at Hang Duong Cemetery. On August 27, the delegation will visit, give gifts to former political prisoners, wounded soldiers, and policy families in Con Dao, and interact with local youth.
On the morning of August 28, the closing ceremony, summary, and presentation of Participation Certificates to 50 delegates will be held in Con Dao. According to the organizers, this is the highlight of the program, helping the campers gain more experience about history, the sacrifices of previous generations, and the value of peace.
On the final day, August 29, the campers will participate in volunteer activities at the Que Huong Humanitarian Center in Di An Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, which is nurturing 347 orphans, disabled, and disadvantaged children. After that, the delegation will return the campers to their families, concluding the journey.
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| The Summer Camp combines traditional education, cultural experiences, Vietnamese practice, exchanges, and social activities. (Source: Organizing Board) |
In addition to experiential, historical, and volunteer activities, the program emphasises Vietnamese practice through group activities, group presentations, and writing assignments. Through this, the Summer Camp contributes to enhancing Vietnamese language skills, preserving cultural identity, and nurturing the connection of the young overseas Vietnamese generation with their homeland.
With the combination of traditional education, cultural experiences, Vietnamese practice, exchanges, and social activities, the event aims to create a space connecting young Vietnamese generations both domestically and internationally, contributing to concretizing the policy on overseas Vietnamese work in the new situation.
