Although many of the 50 overseas Vietnamese attending the festival are very old, they all feel happy to visit the home and show their respect for the Hung Kings – founders of the nation.

Directed toward the homeland

After burning incense to express their gratitude to the ancestors on Oc Son Mountain in Hy Cuong commune, Viet Tri city, Nguyen Nguyet Hang, who has been living in Belgium for 20 years, says this is the first time she has had a chance to attend such a solemn and spiritual ceremony.

“I feel really moved by the ceremony to commemorate the Hung Kings,” said Hang.

Truong Minh Truong, also from Begium, says he still remembers the day Viet Tri bridge was destroyed by the US army more than 30 years ago. He said that although he has been living away from the homeland for 35 years, he is always proud of where he comes from.

Kha Hien Phuc, who is living in Los Angeles, says he was very happy when the Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco offered him a visit to Vietnam for the national festival.

“My two sons can speak very good Vietnamese although they were both born and raised in the US. We tell them stories about the country’s history and about Uncle Ho so that they can learn about the nation’s traditions,” Phuc said, adding that his sons have been to Vietnam twice for the summer camps in 2005 and 2009. He expresses his hope that there will be more and more opportunities for different generations of overseas people to contribute to their homeland.

Joining hands in building the homeland

Many of the overseas residents are delighted at the changes in the country over the years. After attending the incense-offering ceremony at the Hung Kings temple complex, they met with the leaders of Phu Tho province and were informed about local socio-economic achievements.

Speaking at the meeting, Tran Duc Mau, deputy chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, expressed his thanks for the people of Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc for their sincere sentiments. He stated that the visit shows the gratitude of the overseas Vietnamese towards the homeland and it will help connect them with their country.

Dang Ngoc Han from Lac Long Quan Vietnamese school in Poland says the Vietnamese community in Poland always turns their minds to the homeland and encourage their second and third generation to strengthen the bloc of great national unity.

Le Thanh Binh, Chief Representative of the Vietnamese Association says he and other people long for the development of the Vietnamese community in Poland. He says unity and care are the two factors that will help them join hands to contribute to building the homeland.

Ton That Hua says the Hung Kings festival will help overseas people unite and uphold the national traditions and build a powerful and wealthy Vietnam.

On the occasion, the delegation granted VND60 million to Phu Tho’s Study Encouragement Fund and Vinh Phuc’s Fund for Agent Orange Victims.