Vietnamese community in Europe strengthens solidarity and preserves Vietnamese identity
WVR - From October 30 to November 1, a delegation from the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, led by Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien, visited and conducted community activities in the Czech Republic.
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The delegation participated in the “National Great Unity Day and Vietnamese Culture Day in Europe 2026”, the third Congress and the 10th anniversary celebration of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe, visited Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the Vietnamese language teaching center at the Sapa Trade Center, and met with the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in Europe.
Promoting the identity and intelligence of the Vietnamese community in Europe
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| Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien congratulates the third Congress of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe. (Source: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese) |
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ha Thi Nga, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Vice President, and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, emphasized that the festival is vibrant in the atmosphere of celebrating the 96th anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (November 18) and Vietnamese Culture Day (November 24). She assessed that organizing the National Great Unity Day in Europe this time is significant, contributing to expanding the space for national unity, strengthening the bond of Vietnamese people in Europe with their homeland and other Vietnamese communities worldwide.
Ha Thi Nga expressed her hope that the Vietnamese community in Europe will continue to strengthen unity, enhance connectivity, and elevate the role of associations in people's diplomacy, integration, preserving the Vietnamese language, and promoting the cultural identity to the younger generation, thereby harnessing the intelligence of the overseas Vietnamese community towards their homeland.
Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and Head of the Organizing Committee, also shared that the festival received widespread support from the community in Europe. He affirmed that this is an opportunity to meet, tighten compatriot ties, introduce international friends to traditional music, art, ao dai, and Vietnamese cuisine, as well as contribute to strengthening connections, creating common strength, and enhancing the position of the Vietnamese community in European countries.
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| Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien answers press interviews. (Source: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese) |
In an interview with the press, Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, highly appreciated the organization of the event and expressed confidence that the model of the National Great Unity Day will continue to be organized and spread in many other cities and countries in Europe and other regions worldwide.
He emphasized that unity in diversity will create additional strength for the community to develop, preserve culture, affirm its position, and gain respect from the host society.
The third Congress and the 10th Anniversary of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe (2016-2026)
The third Congress of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe for the 2026-2031 term was solemnly held on October 31 and November 1, with the participation of over 200 delegates representing member associations in 24 countries in Europe and 5 collective members of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe.
The Congress approved the revised and supplemented Charter consisting of 9 chapters and 28 articles, decided to rename the organization from “Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe” to “Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe”, and elected the Leadership Board, Executive Committee, Standing Committee, and specialized committees.
The new Executive Committee consists of 74 members, with Hoang Dinh Thang being re-elected as Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe for the 2026-2031 term, along with 6 Vice Presidents and 8 Standing Committee members.
In his acceptance speech at the solemn session, Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Union, affirmed that the Union aims to continue strengthening the great unity bloc, enhancing operational efficiency, and promoting the role of member organizations.
Focusing on the younger generation, connecting entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and mobilizing community resources are identified as key tasks. With the spirit of “Unity - Innovation - Development”, the Union will strengthen coordination with Vietnamese representative missions, associations, and local authorities, thereby contributing to building a united, successfully integrated Vietnamese community with an increasingly elevated position in society.
Congratulating the success of the Congress, Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, highly appreciated the achievements that the Union has made, especially since the second Congress.
The Union has not only increased its membership but also gradually affirmed its role as a common forum for associations to meet, share experiences, connect, and coordinate the implementation of diverse and rich activities for the community on a national and regional scale.
At the same time, the Union has promoted the spirit of solidarity, jointly addressing issues arising in community life such as enhancing understanding of legal policies, integration, preserving cultural identity, caring for spiritual and religious life, promoting Vietnamese language teaching and learning for the younger generation, and has launched many social and charitable activities to support compatriots in the country and actively promote friendly cooperation between Vietnam and European countries.
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| The delegation meets with the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in Europe. (Source: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese) |
Emphasizing that our country is entering a new development phase with the aspiration to build a peaceful, independent, prosperous, and happy Vietnam, Nguyen Trung Kien hopes that, in addition to continuing to care for community life and consolidating associations, the Union will enhance the connection of intellectuals, experts, entrepreneurs, and young Vietnamese; encourage sharing experiences, transferring knowledge, technology, innovation, and effective development models with the country.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Union, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam emphasized that with their understanding of both Vietnam and the host country, the community has favorable conditions to promote people-to-people exchanges, introduce the image of the Vietnamese country and people, connect businesses, expand cooperation in various fields, and contribute knowledge and experience to the country's development.
The Ambassador hopes that the community will continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, support each other for successful integration, preserve Vietnamese identity, and continue to be sustainable bridges of friendship between Vietnam and other countries.
Visit, work, and donate books at the Sapa Vietnamese Language Center, Prague
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| The delegation visits the Vietnamese Language Center at Sapa Trade Center. (Source: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese) |
Attending the meeting were Nguyen Van Tam, Vice President of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in the Czech Republic, President of the Vietnamese Association at the Sapa Trade Center; Le Hong Nhung, Head of the Education Committee of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in the Czech Republic; Nguyen Van Son, Director of the Sapa Vietnamese Language Center; along with teachers, parents, and students of the center.
Informing the delegation about the formation and development of the Sapa Vietnamese Language Center, Le Hong Nhung proudly stated that the Sapa Vietnamese Language Center was established early and is one of the seven renowned Vietnamese language centers in the Czech Republic today.
Despite many difficulties in its early days, the center has now opened many classes, attracting a large number of students, especially during summer courses. Le Hong Nhung shared that the Education Committee of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in the Czech Republic, along with some teachers, is promoting the compilation of a bilingual Vietnamese-Czech teaching curriculum and materials to help the second and third generations access their mother tongue naturally and effectively, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the culture, history, and national traditions.
Le Hong Nhung requested the Committee to continue providing more textbooks, learning materials, organizing professional training, and supporting the development of a teaching program suitable for the characteristics of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.
Highly appreciating the persistent efforts of the teachers and affirming the long-term significance of preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language abroad, Nguyen Trung Kien emphasized that the Committee will continue to support books, materials, and Vietnamese language teaching activities within the permitted conditions, and will forward other proposals to relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies for consideration, in line with the general situation.
On this occasion, the delegation donated Vietnamese books to the Sapa Vietnamese Language Center, contributing to the enrichment of learning materials and encouraging the students' learning spirit.
Visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda at Sapa Center
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| Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien discusses with Master Thich Thanh Tinh, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Prague. |
Discussing with the delegation, Master Thich Thanh Tinh shared that Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Prague, one of 22 Buddhist worship facilities in the Czech Republic, was inaugurated in 2008 at the Sapa Trade Center and has since become not only a spiritual refuge but also a cultural and spiritual bridge of Vietnam in the heart of Europe.
Recently, the pagoda has increased activities aimed at the younger overseas Vietnamese generation, such as organizing summer retreats, thereby nurturing love for the homeland, family, and preserving Vietnamese cultural identity for future generations.
Master Thich Thanh Tinh hopes that the Committee will continue to expand programs such as Summer Camps, visits to Truong Sa island district, emphasizing that these are meaningful annual events that are eagerly anticipated and supported by the community.
Nguyen Trung Kien expressed his joy in visiting and learning about the activities of the Pagoda, emphasizing its role in maintaining spiritual and religious life for the community. He hopes that in the future, the Pagoda will continue to spread the good values of Buddhism in community life, becoming a spiritual refuge, especially helping the younger generation maintain Vietnamese identity and increasingly connect with their national roots.
Meeting with the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in Europe
Attending the meeting with the delegation were Nguyen Thai Ngoc, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in Europe, Chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in the Czech Republic, along with delegates who are members of the Executive Committee of the Union and some Vietnamese entrepreneurs and businesses in Europe.
Nguyen Thai Ngoc shared that the Union has continuously developed its membership, becoming a forum for Vietnamese businesses in Europe to connect, share experiences, replicate successful business models, and seek new investment opportunities.
One of the Union's key activities is organizing the Vietnamese Business Forum in Europe.
The 14th Forum was held from October 24-26, 2025, in Bucharest, Romania, and is expected to be held in Slovakia in 2027. Delegates attending the meeting expressed pride in the country's development achievements in recent times, supported the Party and State's policies towards Overseas Vietnamese, and hoped that in the future, investment and business policies in various fields will become more open and favorable.
Chairman of the Committee Nguyen Trung Kien expressed appreciation for the contributions of overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs and businesses in Europe, shared concerns about business succession for the next generation, and affirmed that the Committee is ready to support connections and implement specific tasks for the Vietnamese Business Forum in Europe 2027.
In the meetings, Chairman of the Committee Nguyen Trung Kien cordially invited the community to attend the 5th Worldwide Overseas Vietnamese Conference, scheduled for early December.
