The program was organized by the Korean-Vietnamese Family Association, contributing to promoting the spirit of national pride and preserving, and promoting Vietnamese-Korean cultural identity. In this program, participants had the opportunity to experience Korean culture in Seoul and other localities in the Republic of Korea (RoK), as well as connect with friends of the same age, and children of Korean-Vietnamese families who are currently living in RoK.

Returning to Vietnam with her two children after the program, Ha Thu Huong is still very emotional when talking about her experience in RoK. Meanwhile, her 8^th grade son and 5^th grade daughter could not hide their excitement about the beautiful memories of the trip.

Huong is married to a Korean national working for an electronics company that has a factory in Vietnam. Currently, her family is living in Hanoi. Every year, the couple tries to arrange time to take their children back to Seoul to visit their grandparents. However, this is the first time her children have attended a program organized by the Korean-Vietnamese Family Association to introduce Korean culture to the second generation of Korean-Vietnamese families.

Huong said that during the trip when going to each place, her children had real-life experiences and learned about the local people, natural features, heritage, and history of that place.

Korean-Vietnamese families living in Vietnam learned how to play Korean traditional musical instruments. (Photo: Thoi Dai)

“The trip is not only an experience but also an opportunity for my kids to access and gain deeper knowledge about Korean culture. This helps them to nurture the love for both of their homelands, Vietnam and Korea," said Huong.

The program was sponsored by the Tourism Council of three districts: Yeongdong in North Chungcheong Province, Geumsan in South Chungcheong Province and Muju in Jeolbuk Province. During the 4-day and night experience trip, 14 students, who are children of Korean-Vietnamese families living in Vietnam, visited many famous cultural destinations in Seoul and tourist areas in 3 provinces.

Many children were excited when they first visited Canh Phuc Palace, the Green House of the Presidential Palace, and the National Museum. Participants also visited and interacted with leaders of the Overseas Korean Agency and the Vietnamese Embassy in RoK. They also visited Everland Entertainment Center, Hongdae neighborhood; watched art performances and taekwondo performances; experienced skiing, Deogyusan cable car; admired Cheongokak - the world's largest drum recorded in the Guinness Book of Records; visited Yeongdong wine village, ginseng display house; learned to play traditional musical instruments...

According to Lee Geon, Vice President of the Korean-Vietnamese Family Association in Vietnam, Korean-Vietnamese families are increasing in number. The Association hopes that the second generation of Korean-Vietnamese families will be a cultural bridge, a "messenger" connecting the friendship between the two countries. When carrying Korean and Vietnamese bloodlines, the younger generation needs to be more conscious of cultivating and promoting the traditional beauties of the two countries. That is also the motive for the Association to organize the Korean cultural experience for the second generation of Korean-Vietnamese families living in Vietnam. After this trip, the Association will develop more appropriate and effective plans and programs.

Participants visited the headquarters and interacted with leaders and officials of the Overseas Korean Agency. (Photo: Yonhap News)

KBS quoted Lee Ki-cheol from the Overseas Korean Agency, saying that creating a link connecting the young Korean generation and children in multicultural families with their homeland is very important. This agency is implementing many projects such as training programs for teenagers and students in the homeland to foster awareness of national identity, supporting Korean schools, and scholarship programs for overseas Koreans.

Lee emphasized that children of multicultural Korean families around the world are the direct subjects of the Government's projects and policies related to overseas Koreans. Lee also called for their active participation in OKA projects.

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