Vietnamese women in Europe spread national cultural identity
VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium has recently hosted an exchange and meeting program themed "Generations of Vietnamese Women in Belgium and Europe," drawing representatives from the embassy, associations, intellectual communities, experts, business owners, and Vietnamese students living, studying, and working in Belgium and several other European countries.
The event served as a platform for generations of Vietnamese women to share integration experience, discuss their roles in preserving cultural identity, building communities, and connecting overseas Vietnamese generations.
Delivering the opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Huong Tra laid stress on the contributions of Vietnamese women to community building, maintaining bonds among expatriates, and serving as cultural bridges for Vietnam abroad. She shared her desire to continue accompanying community activities in the future.
Representing the first generation of Vietnamese women in Belgium, Trinh Thanh Dung shared the historical journey of Vietnamese women through various periods, from the struggle for national independence to integration.
She stressed that despite living in diverse environments, all generations share a common love for their homeland, an awareness of their roots, and the responsibility to preserve national identity. In Belgium, the spirit of solidarity, proactive integration without assimilation, and intergenerational companionship serve as the foundation for an increasingly close-knit community.
A panel discussion formed a core segment of the program, featuring three speakers from different generations: Nguyen Ngoc Mai Phuong, a master's student in Global Logistics and Port Management at KU Leuven; Tran Thi Hong Nhi, a clinical psychologist with 17 years of experience working across multiple countries; and Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, a member of the Vietnamese Community Association in the Netherlands with extensive experience in community and educational activities.
Sharing her study experiences in Belgium, Mai Phuong noted that proactively exploring cultural differences and interacting with international peers helps young people better adapt to a multicultural environment. Through familiar actions such as introducing Vietnamese dishes to foreign friends, every student can act as a "cultural ambassador," helping promote the country's image.
From an intercultural psychology perspective, Tran Thi Hong Nhi addressed differences in perceptions and behaviors between parents and children in immigrant families. She emphasized the importance of balancing the preservation of native cultural values with adaptation to a new environment. Amid the impacts of social media and artificial intelligence (AI), parents need to accompany their children, equip them with knowledge, build trust, and focus on personal, familial, and community connections.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Kim Chi underscored the significance of continuous learning, proactively acquiring knowledge, and developing personal capacity to help women build independent and autonomous lives. Experiences across multicultural environments have also given her a deeper understanding of respect, equality, and emotional expression within the family.
The panel provided diverse perspectives on the integration journey of Vietnamese women, ranging from cultural adaptation, education, and mental health to challenges faced by the younger generation in a digital environment.
Alongside the seminar, the program featured a Vietnamese tea culture introduction led by Counselor Nguyen Ba Sang, allowing attendees to explore the history of the tea plant, distinctive tea regions, and traditional Vietnamese tea-drinking art.
The warm atmosphere continued with cultural performances celebrating national identity, featuring songs such as "Nho mua thu Ha Noi" (Remembering Hanoi's Autumn), "Mien Tay que toi" (My Western Region Homeland), a medley of Northwest-inspired highland dances, and traditional melodies from all three regions of Vietnam. The song "Noi vong tay lon" (Joining Hands for Great Solidarity) concluded the program, conveying a message of unity and solidarity.
Notably, Collective games and a culinary banquet featuring signature dishes such as steamed rice rolls (banh cuon), water fern cake (banh beo), and sticky rice (xoi) created a warm, intimate gathering space. Notably, the participation of representatives from the Vietnamese community in the Netherlands alongside artists expanded connections among Vietnamese people in Belgium and other European nations.
Through cultural exchanges and interactions, the program honored the contributions of Vietnamese women to community life while strengthening intergenerational cohesion, encouraging the spirit of integration and the preservation of national identity. In a multicultural environment, Vietnamese women continue to uphold their roles as connectors, spreading cultural values and looking back toward their homeland and roots.
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VOV.VN - The Vietnamese community in Germany held various exchange activities to mark the 96th anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union (October 20,1930 - October 20, 2026), honoring the remarkable contributions of Vietnamese women to various aspects of local society.
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