A ceremony was held on May 15 to celebrate the 190th anniversary of the establishment of Khanh Tho Pagoda, one of the first pagodas of Vietnamese people in the western province of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, that have been recognized and attached with the plates bearing Vietnamese names, VNA reported.

The event saw the attendance of Thai Buddhist dignitaries, Chairman of National Office of Buddhism of Thailand Ittiporn Chan-iam, representatives from the Annam Nikaya sect in Thailand and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, leaders of Kanchanaburi province, Vietnamese Ambassador Designate to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and hundreds of local Buddhist followers.

From right: Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang (fifth), Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (fourth), along with Buddhists monks and followers.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs thanked the Royal Family and Government of Thailand, the government and people of Kanchanaburi province for their support of the Vietnamese community, helping them integrate into the host society while preserving their cultural identity and the Vietnamese language.

The Vietnamese diplomat, who led a delegation of SCOV on a working visit to Thailand, emphasized that Vietnamese pagodas are both venues for cultural and religious activities and for OVs to convey their feelings for their homeland, maintaining long-standing customs and traditions associated with the community, educating the young generation about the roots and cultural beauties of the homeland.

On the occasion, the Deputy FM had a working session with Thotsapon Chaikomin, Governor of Kanchanaburi province, and Khanh Tho Pagoda Board of Directors, and met with representatives from Vietnamese associations in Thailand.

At the meeting with Thotsapon Chaikomin and Khanh Tho Pagoda Board of Directors, Hang thanked all leaders and people of Kanchanaburi province for always serving the local Vietnamese community, providing, valuable attention and support, creating conditions for people to live and maintaining cultural traditions, customs, and beliefs.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung and the delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work with leaders of Kanchanaburi province.

The Deputy FM assigned the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand to research and introduce a Vietnamese locality to be twinned with Kanchanaburi province at the request of the provincial leaders, adding to the list of nearly 20 provinces, cities of Vietnam and Thailand have signed a cooperation agreement to jointly promote the existing cultural, economic, tourism along with strengths of each locality.

At meetings with Vietnamese associations in Thailand, senior overseas Vietnamese visited the Plan Paint Company, which produces high-tech paints, and the Baan Chidlom Bang Pu restaurant chain of Nguyen Ngoc Anh's family, Hang expressed her joy to see the community being strong in all aspects, contributing to the socio-economic development of Thailand, and have worked together to preserve traditions and culture by jointly renovating Vietnamese pagodas.

Hang also hopes that people will continue to unite and lead associations to join forces to unite the community, nurture young generations of overseas Vietnamese towards their homeland and country, and preserve Vietnamese culture and language; voicing her belief that they will be Vietnam's people's ambassadors in Thailand, making an important contribution to continuing to develop the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Overseas painter Bui Van Si presents Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang with a portrait of Uncle Ho that he painted himself on the occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday.

On this occasion, Bui Van Si, whose Thai name is Phairot Rujirotamphai, presented Hang with a portrait of Uncle Ho that he painted himself on the occasion of Uncle Ho's birthday.

The OV Women's Committee in Thailand also presented THB 50,000 (USD 1.380) to support the Agent Orange Fund while the Vietnamese Association in Thailand and the Executive Board of Khanh Tho Pagoda have cooperated to open a Vietnamese language class facility for people.

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