Vietnam Summer Camp 2026: Fostering love for the homeland through a heritage journey
WVR - On the evening of July 13, Vietnam Summer Camp 2026, themed “Heritage Journey Connecting Roots” officially opened at the working building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang attending the opening ceremony and delivering remarks.
Latest
Accordingly, Vietnam Summer Camp 2026, with the participation of over 100 young people from nearly 32 countries and territories worldwide, takes place from July 12 to 25, traversing Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Hue, Da Nang, Gia Lai, and Nha Trang. The journey promises an exciting itinerary filled with exploration, travel experiences, and cultural and heritage activities.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang emphasised that Vietnam Summer Camp 2026 will be a meaningful journey for the young overseas Vietnamese generation to enhance their understanding of the country's history, culture, people, and development.
Over 14 days, participants embark on a journey of approximately 1,500 km from Hanoi to Khanh Hoa, visiting the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh, historical sites, cultural heritages, engaging with local youth, participating in volunteer activities, and preserving and spreading the Vietnamese language.
 |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang delivering the opening speech. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
According to Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, each destination on the journey is chosen to help participants better understand history to foster pride, understand culture to deepen love, understand people to strengthen bonds, and understand Vietnam today to build confidence in the country's future. The greatest value that the Summer Camp brings is not just the number of places visited, but the profound experiences and feelings about the homeland and the Vietnamese people.
The Deputy Minister also encouraged participants to introduce their international friends to a peaceful, friendly, and dynamically developing Vietnam, while bringing knowledge, experiences, and international relationships to contribute to the homeland when possible.
The Deputy Foreign Minister emphasised that the Party and State always consider the overseas Vietnamese community an inseparable part of the nation; they will continue to improve mechanisms and policies to facilitate overseas Vietnamese, especially the younger generation, in studying, researching, investing, creating, and contributing to the country.
 |
| According to Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, the greatest value of the Summer Camp is the love and connection with the homeland. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Expressing expectations for the upcoming journey, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang hopes that after 14 days of participating in the Summer Camp, the young people will not only bring back beautiful memories but also gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam, its people, and feel more proud of their roots, love the Vietnamese language, and recognize their responsibility towards the future of their homeland.
According to the Deputy Minister, if the Summer Camp can nurture the love for roots, spread the Vietnamese language, connect more friends, and strengthen the belief in the country's future, that would be the greatest success of the program.
 |
| Mai Hai Khoi, an overseas Vietnamese in Poland, representing 110 young overseas Vietnamese speaking at the program. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Representing the young overseas Vietnamese delegates attending Vietnam Summer Camp 2026, Mai Hai Khoi, an overseas Vietnamese in Poland, stressed that the 110 young people participating in the program come from 32 countries and territories, bringing with them different backgrounds and experiences but sharing a common love and connection with their homeland, Vietnam.
Although many were born and raised abroad and have never lived in Vietnam, each family always preserves traditional values, from Vietnamese meals and dishes to Tet customs and connections with relatives back home.
Sharing about preserving national identity, Mai Hai Khoi believes that maintaining and using the Vietnamese language abroad is not easy when most learning and living activities occur in the local language. Many young people understand Vietnamese but are hesitant or face difficulties in communication, so Vietnam Summer Camp is a valuable opportunity for them to use their mother tongue and learn more about the culture, history, and roots of the nation.
 |
| Nguyen The Vinh, an overseas Vietnamese in Russia. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Sharing with The World and Vietnam Report, Nguyen The Vinh, an overseas Vietnamese in Russia, said that the biggest motivation for him to register for Vietnam Summer Camp 2026 is the desire to learn more about the culture and language of his homeland. According to Nguyen The Vinh, the program is an opportunity for him to communicate more in Vietnamese and explore the history, culture, and people of Vietnam.
The Vinh said that although living in Russia, his family still speaks Vietnamese in daily activities and frequently cooks traditional dishes. However, he wishes to personally immerse himself in Vietnam's cultural space.
"Vietnam Summer Camp 2026 is a valuable opportunity for me to use my mother tongue more and gain a deeper understanding of the history, culture, and country of Vietnam," The Vinh shared.
 |
| Nguyen Viet Minh Chau, an overseas Vietnamese in Germany. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
For Nguyen Viet Minh Chau, a young overseas Vietnamese in Germany, the love for culture, nature, and the desire to return to roots motivated her to register for the program. According to Minh Chau, although she only has the opportunity to use Vietnamese when talking to her parents, she always cherishes her mother tongue and actively opens Vietnamese language classes for children in the Vietnamese community in Germany.
"I love the Vietnamese language. Returning to Vietnam to participate in the Summer Camp not only helps me understand more about my homeland but also motivates me to spread the Vietnamese language to the younger overseas Vietnamese generation," Minh Chau expressed.
 |
| Vietnam Summer Camp 2026 with the theme “Heritage Journey Connecting Roots” officially opened and takes place from July 12-25. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Some images from the opening ceremony of Vietnam Summer Camp 2026:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
