Vietnamese classes bridge generations at Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane
WVR - Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane is not only a spiritual home for the Vietnamese community in Laos but also a place where the Vietnamese language is preserved and passed on.
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Since 2016, free language classes held here have helped connect generations of overseas Vietnamese and Lao learners with Vietnamese culture and identity.
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| Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen teaches a free Vietnamese language class at Phat Tich Pagoda in the Lao capital of Vientiane. (Photo: VNA) |
Nurturing national cultural identity
Since 2016, Ms. Nguyen Thị Thu Huyen, a Vietnamese expatriate living and working in Laos, has been running free Vietnamese classes at the pagoda. What began as a modest effort to help her own children retain their linguistic roots has since evolved into a meaningful initiative embraced by the broader community. Initially attended by only a handful of students, the class has grown steadily over the years.
Ms. Huyen not only teaches language basics but also guides students - both children of Vietnamese expatriates and local Lao learners - in singing Vietnamese songs like Que huong (Homeland), blending language learning with cultural immersion.
Today, the Vietnamese classes at Phat Tich Pagoda are held six times a week, divided into two levels: basic and advanced. The basic class focuses on foundational skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, aiming to help students communicate effectively in everyday Vietnamese. The advanced class caters to those with prior knowledge, enhancing their proficiency while expanding their understanding of Vietnamese history, geography, and culture. Each lesson is designed to foster not just linguistic fluency but also a deeper emotional connection to Vietnam.
The teaching team includes five passionate volunteer educators - both Vietnamese and Lao - who are deeply committed to preserving the Vietnamese language in Laos. Beyond language instruction, these teachers serve as cultural ambassadors, instilling in their students a love for the Vietnamese heritage.
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| Phat Tich Pagoda has played an important role as a cultural hub for Vietnamese language preservation in Vientiane. (Photo: Phat Tich Pagoda's Fanpage) |
Where the heart finds its origin
Nearly a decade on, hundreds of students have passed through these classes, from young children of Vietnamese descent to Lao youth curious about their neighbor country’s culture. With every lesson, every song, and every shared story, the Vietnamese language continues to quietly spread and take root in the heart of Vientiane.
The classroom often echoes with the voices of children singing: "Que huong moi nguoi chi mot, nhu la chi mot me thoi..." (Each person has only one homeland. Just as there is only one mother...)
For these students, the lyrics are more than just music—they are living lessons in pride, identity, and belonging. Each time they sing, they feel a little closer to the homeland they may have never seen, but which they deeply feel as their own.
Souliya Phanthulaatsa, a Vietnamese-Lao student, shared: “My parents told me to keep our language because it’s where we come from. I’m learning Vietnamese so that I can study in Vietnam one day.”
The class is not limited to the Vietnamese community. It also attracts many Lao learners who are drawn by a love for Vietnamese culture and people. Some hope to work or study in Vietnam, while others simply want to better understand their neighboring country.
Khamphueang Lovanxay, a Lao student, expressed: “I’m learning Vietnamese because I love the people and culture of Vietnam.”
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| The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos hosted a ceremony at Phat Tich Pagoda to mark the Day for Honouring Vietnamese Language in Vietnamese Communities Abroad (September 8). (Photo: Phat Tich Pagoda's Fanpage) |
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam praised the role of Phat Tich Pagoda as a cultural hub in Vientiane. “The pagoda has become a center for preserving both the Vietnamese language and cultural identity,” he said. “It offers free classes not only for the children of the Vietnamese community but also for Lao friends who are passionate about learning Vietnamese.”
“These classes are not just about teaching words,” the Ambassador added. “They are about preserving a piece of our identity—transmitting the mother tongue to the third and fourth generations born in Laos—and sharing Vietnamese history and culture with others.”
Despite ongoing challenges, the movement to teach and learn Vietnamese within the Vietnamese community in Laos, particularly in the capital city of Vientiane has been steadily expanding and achieving encouraging results. To preserve and further develop the Vietnamese language abroad, it is essential to have devoted pioneers as Vietnamese language ambassador, who can inspire, promote, and sustain the teaching, learning, and everyday use of Vietnamese within overseas Vietnamese communities.
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| In a quiet corner of Vientiane, Vietnamese continues to flourish—not just as a language, but as a bridge across cultures, generations, and hearts. (Photo: Phat Tich Pagoda's Fanpage) |
According to Venerable Thich Minh Quang, head monk of Phat Tich Pagoda in Vientiane, maintaining the Vietnamese language is “both necessary and vital when we are living abroad. A Vietnamese person who does not understand the language cannot truly understand the culture, history, or traditions of Vietnam."
"When the language is preserved, people gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s heritage, which fosters stronger attachment and greater love for the Vietnamese people,” said Venerable Thich Minh Quang.
