Nguyen Quang Tinh, an official on the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA)’s Department of Culture and Information, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, talked to reporter Hoang Huong of Radio the Voice of Vietnam.

Reporter: From now until mid-August, COVA will organise a lot of activities for young overseas Vietnamese. Could you brief us on some of the activities?

Mr Tinh: COVA run three major events. First, as is the tradition, we will open a camp for young overseas Vietnamese. This year, the camp is expected to attract 80 students. They will travel from north to south. This year, we focus more on camping rather than travelling by organising talks and exchanges in northern Quang Ninh province, central Da Nang city and southern Ho Chi Minh City about teaching Vietnamese and preserving and promoting Vietnam’s cultural identity. Moreover, young overseas Vietnamese will also enjoy homestays and take part in charity activities such as visiting the Xa Dan deaf and dumb school. We also aim to broaden their historical knowledge through such visits to the Cu Chi underground tunnels, some war relics and Nha Rong Wharf. All these activities are aimed at helping young overseas Vietnamese gain a better understanding of the country as well as its role in the present era.

The second major activity is a gathering of young people from the homeland and young Vietnamese living abroad in European countries. The meeting will be held between July 10-15 in the Czech Republic. Around 200 young people will take part in the event, 40 of them will come from Vietnam and the remainder from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Germany. The meeting aims to provide a platform for young Vietnamese people, both living at home and abroad, to exchange ideas and show the close ties that exist among young generations.

Organising a gathering abroad is a new challenge for COVA. This year’s event is a pilot scheme and furture meetings will be exanded to other countries.

Third, COVA will open Vietnamese language classes for Vietnamese students from San Francisco. At the moment, some overseas Vietnamese registered have for the class. During their study in Vietnam, they will also visit some sights and cultural relics so that they can gain a better understand of the homeland.

Reporter: What should we do to diversify cultural activities and exchanges among domestic and overseas Vietnamese communities in general and between young Vietnamese people at home and abroad in particular?

Mr Tinh: There is no easier way than to organise exchanges and seminars to gather young overseas Vietnamese and even the whole Vietnamese community abroad. Vietnam’s growing position has earned the country the right conditions to organise such activities. The common denominator is the homeland of Vietnam.

I also want to add that Vietnam will exempt entry visas for overseas Vietnamese returning to the country for a period of less than 90 days. The idea has been approved by the Party and State. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cooperating with relevant agencies to hopefully announce the decision on the occasion of Southern Liberation Day (April 30) and implement it on July 1.

The new policy by the Party and State will leave a good impression on overseas Vietnamese people as it creates favourable conditions for them to travel, do business and create better links with the homeland. After many years, the idea has been finally been realised. Visa exemption will even be given to overseas people’s relatives (wife or husband, and children). Resolution No.36 of the Party Politburo says that the Vietnamese community living abroad is an integral part of the country. The policy to provide visa exemption to overseas Vietnamese and their relatives clearly reflects Vietnam’s open and consistent policy.

Reporter: How does the COVA’s Department of Culture and Information seize the opportunity to provide information for overseas Vietnamese people?

Mr Tinh: We work to provide latest accurate information for overseas Vietnamese people. There is still a lot of work to do. In the present situation, we have no choice but to diversify information. Sources of information are becoming more diversified and modern. The Internet is becoming a key source of information for the overseas Vietnamese community thanks to its speed and accessibility. In addition, we will urge the Vietnam Television to sign contracts with designated television stations to provide Vietnamese channels in their networks.

Regarding Vietnamese teaching proposal that was approved by the Prime Minister in 2004, we have worked with the Ministry of Education and Training. This year, the ministry will finalise the printing of a set of six text books and then print them on CDs and VCDs to provide to overseas Vietnamese. We also pay attention to teaching Vietnamese on the radio, TV and the Internet. I think that these sources of information will better help overseas Vietnamese access information about the homeland.

Reporter: Thank you very much.