The annual “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) programme – the biggest cultural event held for overseas Vietnamese (OVs) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year - will take place in Ho Chi Minh City on February 1-2, or the 22nd-23rd day of the 12th lunar month, VNA reported.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for OVs Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang revealed the information at a press conference jointly held by the committee and the People’s Committee of HCM City on January 15.

The programme helps affirm the Party and State's policy that the OV community is an inseparable part of the nation, she said, adding it also encourages Vietnamese nationals to preserve the traditional cultural traits while living abroad and contribute to the national development.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for OVs Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

A kaleidoscope of activities will be organized during the 2024 programme, spotlighting the image of a dynamic and innovative HCM City.

Highlights of the programme will be ancestral incense offering at the National Historical and Cultural Park, and tours of major cultural and historical landmarks, along with activities to connect Vietnamese expats and local people.

State President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse will host several events, including incense and flower offerings to President Ho Chi Minh and President Ton Duc Thang and a carp fish release ritual on the Kitchen Gods’ Day (the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month). The leader will deliver Tet greetings to the OVs on February 2.

Under the Homeland Spring 2024, the participants will experience the service on Metro Line No.1 that runs from Ben Thanh market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park and visit several historical and cultural relic sites. They will attend a talk show on the pilot of several special mechanisms and policies on the city’s develcopment.

Sharing about the reason for the organization in HCM City, Vice Chairman of the city People's Committee Vo Van Hoan said that the city is the locality with the largest number of overseas Vietnamese in the country with more than 2 million people. In 2023, the amount of remittances to HCM City will be the highest in the country - expected to be about more than USD 9 billion.

In addition, HCM City successfully organized the Spring Homeland program in 2015 and 2017, with a large number of overseas Vietnamese participating.

An art performance during the Home Spring program 2021. Photo: VNA

According to Hoan, in 2023, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 on piloting several specific development mechanisms and policies of HCM City, creating a new premise for strong development after difficulties in recent years, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Foreign Ministry reported and received approval from the President and the Standing Committee of the Secretariat on organizing the 2024 Homeland Spring program in the city.

Held for the first time in 2008, the program has been a joint effort between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, several agencies, and localities.

Last year, it drew the participation of some 1,000 OV citizens.

There are currently around 5.3 million Vietnamese people living and working in more than 130 countries and territories across the world. They have played an important role in maintaining and promoting the national great solidarity bloc.

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