The Consulate General: A share home connecting the Vietnamese community in Chongqing

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, President of the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing and Sichuan, shared her joy with the World and Vietnam Report as the Consulate General of Vietnam in Chongqing was officially inaugurated.

The joy of the Vietnamese community on the opening day of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Chongqing. (Photo: Courtesy by author)

The presence of Vietnam's diplomatic representative mission in Southwest China surely brings many expectations for the Vietnamese community. How did you and the community receive this good news?

Chongqing and Sichuan are considered centers of economy, logistics, science and technology, as well as culture and education in Southwest China.

Previously, Vietnamese Consul General in Chongqing Bui Nguyen Long affirmed his determination by likening the Consulate General of Vietnam to a “new bridge of friendship” in the “Capital of Bridges”.

He emphasized that the Consulate General will proactively promote connections between Vietnam and Chongqing and Sichuan, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and open up many opportunities for cooperation and development between localities on both sides in various fields.

Therefore, the establishment of the Consulate General is seen as a bridge connecting Vietnam with Southwest China.

This presence not only contributes to promoting trade cooperation, cultural-tourism exchanges, but also brings practical convenience in consular work and protection of Vietnamese citizens living and working in this area.

Looking back at the formation and development of the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing-Sichuan, what would you like to share?

The Vietnamese Association in Chongqing and Sichuan was officially established on October 16, 2022, bringing together a large number of Vietnamese living, working, and studying in this area. The association's establishment aims to strengthen community bonds, create a forum for sharing, encouraging, and supporting each other in life, contributing to building a united, stable Vietnamese community oriented towards the homeland.

In the early days of its establishment, the Association faced many difficulties because the Chongqing and Sichuan areas are vast, covering up to 568,000 km². At that time, I, along with a few Vietnamese acquaintances, numbered less than 10 people.

However, with a spirit of connection and relentless effort, we gradually expanded the network, connecting more compatriots. To date, the Association has gathered over 1,000 Vietnamese living, studying, and working in Chongqing and Sichuan, with more than 600 members in Chongqing alone.

Over time, we have effectively played the role of an efficient community organization, becoming a reliable bridge between the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese representative missions in China.

The Association actively cooperates closely with domestic departments in implementing activities to mobilize and support the community, contributing to strengthening the solidarity and attachment of Vietnamese people abroad.

What activities has the Association implemented to preserve Vietnamese cultural identity and act as a bridge for cooperation between the two countries?

In October 2022, in response to the Project "Day Honoring the Vietnamese Language in the Vietnamese Community Abroad for the period 2023–2030", the Vietnamese Association in Chongqing-Sichuan launched a movement to teach, learn, and preserve the Vietnamese language within the community.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan with Vietnamese Consul General in Chongqing Bui Nguyen Long. (Photo: Courtesy by author)

To meet the demand for learning Vietnamese among the children of expatriates, the Association organizes free Vietnamese language classes, helping them not only maintain and develop their mother tongue but also understand more about the traditions, culture, and history of the nation. Through this, the Association contributes to spreading and promoting the unique cultural values, humanistic spirit, and identity of the Vietnamese people to international friends.

Since its establishment, the Association has organized many meaningful activities to connect the community, support and help each other in life, while contributing to preserving and spreading Vietnamese culture in the host country.

Notable activities include programs oriented towards the roots, remembering the ancestors' merits, including the Hung Kings' death anniversary. These events not only help the community feel proud of the nation's tradition of building and defending the country but also express the principle of “drinking water, remembering the source”, strengthening the spirit of solidarity and attachment to the homeland.

Additionally, the Association organizes activities to commemorate the Liberation of the South on April 30, celebrate the traditional Tet with familiar customs such as making banh chung, playing folk games, cultural and artistic exchanges, creating a warm, friendly atmosphere rich in identity.

The Vietnamese community in Chongqing and Sichuan is always deeply aware of their role as a “bridge” in promoting friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Utilizing their unique advantages, the expatriates here have become a core force in connecting, transferring science and technology, promoting trade, and advertising Vietnamese goods and products in the host country. They also actively participate in investment activities, economic project development, contributing to deepening the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China in the new phase.

How do you perceive the integration of Vietnamese people into the social and cultural environment of Chongqing and Sichuan?

The Association always strives to maintain community activities and seek appropriate ways to connect and support Vietnamese people in the area. During its activities, the Association has implemented a “dual goal”: both disseminating domestic information and promoting local legal regulations. This helps members enhance their awareness, avoiding risks or troubles due to a lack of legal understanding.

Alongside this, the Association organizes many timely and practical livelihood support activities, helping members overcome economic, work, and study difficulties, enabling them to stabilize their lives in a foreign land.

Most Vietnamese living in this area do not face language barriers, thus their ability to adapt and integrate into the social and cultural environment of China occurs quite quickly and smoothly.

As the President of the Association, what are you most passionate about in your journey with the overseas Vietnamese community?

President Ho Chi Minh once said: “Culture lights the way for the nation”. In my journey with the overseas Vietnamese community, I have always had a passion and a concern: “Keeping the soul of the homeland” abroad. I am always deeply aware of the importance of spreading the homeland's culture, not just as a responsibility but also as a pride for every Vietnamese individual abroad.

The Vietnamese Association in Chongqing and Sichuan gathers a large number of Vietnamese living, working, and studying in this area. (Photo: Courtesy by author)

In my journey with the overseas Vietnamese community, I have always had a passion and a concern: “Keeping the soul of the homeland” abroad. I am always deeply aware of the importance of spreading the homeland's culture, not just as a responsibility but also as a pride for every Vietnamese individual abroad.

Therefore, in the Association's activity orientation, I am always clearly aware that, besides efforts to build a stable economic life for the community, the more important thing is to preserve and spread the homeland's culture, nurture love for the homeland, and instill national pride in the generations of Vietnamese abroad.

Only by connecting through culture – the most enduring bond – can we forge a great spiritual strength, contributing to strengthening the great national unity of Vietnam.

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