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The positive results of the program were announced at the Conference on Reviewing People's Diplomacy, Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, and the Implementation of the “Vietnamese Families with Lao and Cambodian Students Studying in Ho Chi Minh City” Program in 2024. The event was organized by the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on February 21.

According to Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Ngo Thanh Son, the program has left a lasting impression, with its quality continuously improving, thereby fostering the special friendship among the peoples of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

In 2024, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City led a delegation of Vietnamese families to visit students' families in Cambodia. This helped reassure Cambodian parents about their children's studies in Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, the committee allocated over 748 million VND to support host families.

A warm gathering of Vietnamese families with Lao and Cambodian students. (Photo: ubmttq.hochiminhcity.gov.vn)

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union took charge of organizing the host family reception ceremony, the “Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Family Festival,” and honored 72 outstanding Lao and Cambodian students in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024.

The Ho Chi Minh City Farmers' Association organized a hands-on program titled “A Day as a Farmer” with the theme “Lao and Cambodian Students with Vietnam’s Seas and Islands” in Can Gio District. The Ho Chi Minh City Women's Union and the Ho Chi Minh City Federation of Labor jointly held a quiz competition on President Ho Chi Minh’s life and career, along with cultural performances and a traditional costume showcase featuring attire from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations hosted a free screening of the film Peach Blossom, Pho and Piano for Lao and Cambodian students, helping them understand Vietnam’s history of national liberation and defense during the resistance war against the French.

The accompanying activities of the program provided Lao and Cambodian students with experiences of Vietnamese culture and daily life, particularly in Ho Chi Minh City. This was an opportunity for them to immerse themselves in Vietnamese traditions, thereby deepening their understanding and appreciation of their Vietnamese host families as well as strengthening their friendship and solidarity with the Vietnamese people.

“The Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City will continue to advise on people-to-people diplomacy activities, including the Vietnamese Families with Lao and Cambodian Students Program for 2025 and beyond. Future iterations will have more in-depth content and broader participation. Additionally, the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s diplomacy activities will be coordinated with member organizations to integrate programs with international organizations and people from other countries, ensuring higher-quality exchange visits. This will further enhance the Front’s coordination and diplomatic activities with other nations,” said Ngo Thanh Son.

Delegates, Vietnamese families, and Lao and Cambodian students take a commemorative photo. (Photo: ubmttq.hochiminhcity.gov.vn)

According to Sengchanthavong Khemphone, a Lao student at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, the time spent living with Vietnamese host families has been an unforgettable and meaningful experience for Lao and Cambodian students. The program not only provides emotional support, giving students a “second family” while studying far from home, but also serves as a bridge for them to better understand the beauty of Vietnamese people, culture, and country.

“These precious experiences will stay with us beyond our time in Vietnam, becoming cherished memories of studying in a dynamic, modern, and compassionate Ho Chi Minh City. We promise to strive for excellence in our studies so that, in the future, we can contribute to our home countries and further nurture the strong friendship between the peoples of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam,” said Sengchanthavong Khemphone.

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