Bittersweet Goodbyes: Vietnam Summer Camp 2024 Concludes in Ho Chi Minh City

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The Vietnam Summer Camp 2024, which saw the participation of more than 120 overseas Vietnamese youth from 28 nations and territories, came to an end on July 28 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Starting in 2003, the Vietnam Summer Camp is an annual program organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) in coordination with relevant agencies, to create conditions for the young generation of overseas Vietnamese from all over the world return home to learn about the nation's traditions, culture and history, and exchange to strengthen solidarity among overseas Vietnamese young people; between the young generation of overseas Vietnamese and domestic youth.

Attending the closing event were Nguyen Manh Dong, Deputy Head of the SCOV; Le Van Thu, Deputy Head of the Ho Chi Minh City's SCOV; representatives of a number of departments, branches and sectors of Ho Chi Minh City and members of the program's organizing committee.

The annual summer camp aims to help Vietnamese expatriates understand the country’s history, development and international integration process. Photo: Tuan Viet

Speaking at the ceremony, Dong thanked the 120 delegates participating in the summer camp, highly appreciated the sense of discipline of the young overseas Vietnamese throughout the journey, fully participating in the activities, solidarity, mutual support of the members of the delegation. Those wonderful things have created the overall success of the Vietnam Summer Camp 2024.

Representing the overseas Vietnamese youth and students participating in the Vietnam Summer Camp 2024, Le Nguyen Luu An who returned from Malaysia and Do Phuc Nguyen from USA shared memorable moments when participating in this journey and sent thanks to the organizing committee - those who took care of them throughout the trip.

Do Phuc Nguyen, an overseas Vietnamese from the United States, expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, especially the organizing committee, who worked hard to have a complete journey. Participating in the summer camp, what he appreciates most is that friends from different countries came here to exchange with each other, as he learned a lot after exchanging with them.

Another participant, Le Nguyen Luu An recalled her feeling before and after the summer camp journey, saying that when she stepped into the hotel in Hanoi, she was a little worried because she thought that it would be difficult to talk to everyone since her peers came from many different countries, and it would be a lengthy trip. But now she can confidently says that this trip's be full of laughter and give her wonderful experiences.

"This summer will be the most memorable summer for me, making me love my country more. I will think a lot about this trip and want to return to the places I have been to and visit the people I have met," An told The World and Viet Nam Report.

Overseas students attending the camp perfomance at the closing ceremony. Photo: Tuan Viet

Attending the closing ceremony of the summer camp, the parents, grandparents, and relatives of the participants were also emotional. Everyone saw the maturity of their youngsters after 16 days of participating in this journey.

Vo My Huong, Trinh Hieu Thy's grandmother, shared with The Gioi & Viet Nam Newspaper that when Thy was able to participate in the summer camp, it was not only a joy but also a pride for the family. It was the first time she was able to participate in a journey traveling across of the Fatherland, learning about her homeland. Huong's family's grateful to the Foreign Ministry and other departments for coordinating to bring young people from over 20 countries and territories to attend, so that the children can remember their homeland and roots, Vietnam.

"Thy's Vietnamese is not good, but when she participated in the summer camp, she told me that she used Vietnamese throughout the journey. After returning to Singapore, the family will arrange to teach her Vietnamese so that she will always be proud to be Vietnamese," said Huong.

Overseas students say goodbye to each others. Photo: Tuan Viet

Pham Minh Phuong, an overseas Vietnamese youth from Mongolia, confinded that after 16 days of attending the Vietnam Summer Camp 2024, she really feels that she understands and loves Vietnam so much more.

"This is my most memorable summer. I hope the Vietnam Summer Camp will not stop here but will continue for many more days. I remember visiting and playing with my friends and being woken up every morning by the organizing committee and informed of the next destination of the journey," Phuong told the reporter.

Before coming to the Vietnam Summer Camp 2024, Phuong emotionally revealed that she only imagined that she would be able to participate in activities such as planting trees, doing charity work, learning Vietnamese, but in reality, she experienced many interesting activities and joy from the solidarity and sharing of overseas Vietnamese friends from many countries and territories.

"Everyone bonded together as one and experienced it to the fullest," she concluded.

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