Thousands of overseas Vietnamese expected home for Tet

Jan 20, 2010, 09:59

At least 350,000 overseas Vietnamese will return to the land of their ancestors during the Tet holiday this year, according to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese.

Officials expect the number to be higher than last year, considering the country’s economic recovery and the fact that 2010 is filled with major holidays and festivals, most notably the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the nation’s capital in Hanoi.

The state committee will organize several events for overseas Vietnamese, also known as Viet Kieu, this year, including a ceremony on January 10 remembering uncle Ho’s meeting with overseas Vietnamese in Hai Phong 50 years ago. Another event in April will commemorate meeting of the An Nam patriots in France 90 years ago.

Two major musical performances “Noi tinh que huong” (Love for the Homeland) and “Xuan que huong” (Spring in the Motherland), scheduled for January and February, will complement a singing competition for overseas Vietnamese and a youth camp for younger Viet kieu in the lead up to Hanoi’s major birthday celebrations.

In late November last year, the first national conference of overseas Vietnamese was held in Hanoi, attracting overseas Vietnamese from 101 countries and territories worldwide.

Source: Thanh Nien Daily