Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Ngo Duc Thang praised the contributions and efforts made by overseas Vietnamese in developing Vietnamese community through their various activities launched with the thought of the homeland.

This was also to show the Vietnamese State and Government’s recognition of Vietnamese nationals’ contributions to developing the community and enhancing the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.

Mr Thang called on overseas Vietnamese in Thailand to bring into full play what they have achieved over the past years while preserving their national cultural identity and contributing to the building of an ASEAN community, particularly in the context of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015 vision.

Thai Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Provisional Standing Committee of the Vietnamese Association in Bangkok also spoke highly of the Party, State and Government’s attention to overseas Vietnamese in Thailand as well as those living in different countries around the world.

Under the decision made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA), 49 collectives and individuals were awarded the Certificates of Merit in Thailand this time and the rest will continue to be presented on the Traditional Lunar New Year.