The Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia (formerly known as the Khmer-Vietnamese Union in Cambodia) has been listed in the list of organizations that can legally organize and function in Cambodia since 2018 according to the Cambodian Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Association granted its operational seal to 25 Khmer-Vietnamese branches in all of Cambodia's provinces and towns following the decision. As a result, the Association is now in a stronger position to carry out its charitable work in the community and help Vietnamese people stabilize their lives and more successfully assimilate into Cambodian culture.

Khmer people and Khmer people of Vietnamese origin come to receive gifts at the headquarters of the Khmer-Vietnam Association, Phnom Penh, on the morning of September 23. Photo: Nhan Dan

As a new legal entity re-recognized by the Cambodian government, the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia has carried out many positive and useful activities for the community as well as the host society, making worthy contributions to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries.

The Association is currently a mass organization representing Khmer people of Vietnamese origin and Vietnamese relatives who come to live and do business legally in Cambodia.

Warm and friendly atmosphere

The Executive Committee and its affiliates have worked hard in the past to overcome obstacles in order to achieve the objectives outlined in the activities of assisting the Vietnamese community to improve their lives, to advance in business, to pursue education, and to contribute to the development of the host country's society.

In particular, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Association worked with its branches to get in touch with the local authorities and arrange for the majority of individuals of Vietnamese ancestry to receive the pandemic vaccine. The Association also collaborated with the Embassy and localities, agencies, and units in the nation in an attempt to quickly transport and distribute pandemic preventive supplies and relief products to homes in need in pandemic areas.

The Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia helps Vietnamese people in Cambodia. Photo: Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia

In addition, the Association has actively coordinated with Cambodian authorities and Vietnamese ministries and branches to support the granting of permanent residence cards; take the prescribed steps for the eligible person to be naturalized in Cambodia. The association also mobilizes businesses to build schools, multi-purpose houses, housing, and scholarships for students.

Being able to fully feel the gratitude of the people of Vietnamese origin when in the locality, the branches also actively cooperate with the Association to take practical actions for the people.

For example, the Khmer-Vietnam Association, branch of Phnom Penh capital, has distributed gifts to support households affected by fire in Chrang Chamres 1 ward, Russey Keo district. The Association visited and encouraged people on the displaced floating rafts, together to learn and grasp the actual situation to discuss ways to help them reduce difficulties and gradually stabilize their lives.

Recently, the Khmer-Vietnamese Association, branch of Prey Veng province, received from the Foreign Police of Prey Veng province two cases of mother and daughter from Cao Lanh (Dong Thap) who were tricked into working in Cambodia. The members of the Association took the mother and daughter to the Vinh Ba border gate to carry out the handover procedures to return to Vietnam, helping them return home to reunite with their families.

Currently, about 500 Khmer and Khmer Vietnamese households in Chhnok Tru hamlet, Chhnok Tru commune, Boribo district, Kompong Chhnang province are being flooded due to the impact of storms. The flood water rose, causing severe damage to the people's houses, crops, livestock, utensils, and the whole flooded area.

Faced with this situation, the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia promptly sent a letter calling on businesses, donors and benefactors to join hands to help people. This is a great source of motivation not only physically but also mentally to help people stabilize their lives.

President of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia Chau Van Chi (top row, right) celebrates the 2022 Mid-Autumn Festival with Vietnamese students in Siem Reap province. Photo: Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia

Preserving traditional culture

Despite numerous challenges, Vietnamese people in Cambodia attempt to assimilate into the host community while retaining the nation's traditional traditions, especially the Vietnamese language. Vietnamese children's education in this country is changing significantly thanks to a variety of options.

According to the Association's most recent figures, there are around 30 schools and classes teaching in two languages, Khmer and Vietnamese, in the capital Phnom Penh and 14 other provinces, with almost 1,400 students registered. Children from the Vietnamese community attend these schools and programs for free as part of the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports initiative, while also learning Vietnamese using textbooks from the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training.

Local organizations and groups in the nation have long supported the construction of schools and the organization of classes for children of Vietnamese descent. Many Vietnamese families are committed to make arrangements in order to send their children to school and lessons in two languages, Khmer and Vietnamese, since they recognize the value of education.

The Executive Committee of the Association makes frequent home visits to families to encourage them to enroll their kids in Khmer and Vietnamese programs and schools as well as to point them in the direction of their Vietnamese ethnic ancestry.

Since 2006, the Association has submitted applications for more than 200 children's scholarships around the nation. Currently, over 150 young people have completed their higher education in Vietnam and moved back to Cambodia to live and work. This human resource will help the Cambodian people construct their nation and advance the status of the Vietnamese in Cambodia.

Dedicated leaders

In order to have positive activities in the past time, it is necessary to mention the dedicated leader, Chau Van Chi - Chairman of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Cambodia, who has been working for nearly 40 years in supporting work Vietnamese people in the area.

As a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front since 1999, every time he returns home to attend a conference or welcome leaders on the occasion of his visit to a friendly country, Chau Van Chi is encouraged to try his best. working to help overseas Vietnamese have a better life.

With his efforts to work for the community, Chau Van Chi was awarded many certificates of merit and medals by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations. Those awards are treasured and kept by him, his mind is the motivation to continue accompanying people.

When being elected as the President of the Association for the term 2021-2026, Chau Van Chi is deeply aware that this is a great honor and also a very heavy responsibility. However, for the common benefit of the community, he believes that the members of the Association will always unite, reciprocate, preserve and promote the fine traditional identity of the Vietnamese people, always looking to the Fatherland. , as well as respecting the customs and habits of the Cambodian people.

He promised that the Association will be created thoroughly and attentively in the future, paying special attention to the Vietnamese population in Cambodia. In particular, the Association will forge closer links with the Cambodian authorities as well as the Vietnamese Embassy and Consulate General in Cambodia in an effort to solidify its support for the local Vietnamese population.

The Vietnamese community in Sihanoukville city, Preah Sihanouk province, will never forget Tran Van Nam, Chairman of the Khmer-Vietnam Association, for his generous nature. In addition to being the proprietor of a well-known furniture manufacturer, he has consistently contributed monetarily and spiritually to all philanthropic initiatives started by the Consulate General of Vietnam.

Tran Van Nam consistently keeps an eye on his roots and is very passionate about preserving Vietnamese culture. As a result, the Preah Sihanouk province's Khmer-Vietnamese Association set up a Vietnamese culture lesson for kids of Vietnamese descent and a Khmer culture class for kids who couldn't afford to go to public schools in Cambodia.

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