The event marks the Day for Honoring the Vietnamese Language in Overseas Vietnamese Communities. It celebrates the beauty and enduring value of the language, spreads a love for the mother tongue, and encourages younger generations abroad to preserve and share their cultural roots.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that certain treasures accompany people throughout their entire lives, and for every Vietnamese person, that treasure is their mother tongue. She highlighted that the language carries the first lullabies from grandmothers and mothers, memories of communal village roofs, river wharves, and open fields, while preserving the history, culture, and soul of the nation. She affirmed that regardless of where Vietnamese people live around the world, their native language remains a resilient thread connecting them to their ancestral homeland.
According to the Deputy Minister, this year’s theme draws on the quintessential image of a Vietnamese kite. A kite can soar high and far on the winds of ambition and integration, but it stays steady only when anchored securely to its guiding string. For overseas communities, that string is the native tongue—a language of kinship, identity, and shared national pride.
Recalling Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs, issued by the Politburo on August 2, 2026, Ms. Hang noted that the document affirms Vietnamese as both a vital means of communication and a major source of national soft power. Every overseas language classroom, preserved book, and dedicated teacher helps nurture Vietnam’s cultural identity across the globe.
The lifeblood of the program lies not just in stage performances, but in the authentic stories of everyday advocates. These champions include volunteers opening weekend classes, parents speaking Vietnamese with their children daily, and diaspora youth singing heritage songs despite having foreign accents.
Highlighting the conferment of the 2026 “Vietnamese Language Ambassador Abroad” title, Ms. Hang noted that the awardees include both overseas Vietnamese and foreign nationals with a profound love for the country. Over the years, these advocates have built unique bridges to bring the language closer to international audiences, demonstrating that Vietnamese continues to thrive across borders and generations.
Vietnamese Language Ambassadors and distinguished delegates gather for a commemorative photo. (Photo: State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese)
As Vietnam enters a dynamic new chapter of development, the Deputy Minister expressed hope that overseas families will continue safeguarding the language as the nation’s cultural core. She encouraged educators to keep inspiring students and urged younger generations to speak, read, and share the story of Vietnam in their native voice.
The centerpiece of the evening was the official award ceremony conferring the title of 2026 Vietnamese Language Ambassador Abroad upon eight prominent individuals. The honorees include scholar Shimizu Masaaki from Japan, 11-year-old Tijn Konings Le from the Netherlands, teacher Nguyen Thi Lien Huong from Taiwan, and educators Nguyen Thi Thu Hien from Denmark, Tran Ngoc Thao from France, Nguyen Phuong Chung from the United States, and Tran Huyen Huong from Australia, along with Venerable Thich Phap Quang from Sri Lanka.
Organizers expanded the roster from six to eight recipients this year to recognize a broader group of role models. This diverse lineup—spanning an 11-year-old child, an international researcher, a Buddhist monk, and passionate diaspora teachers—reflects the expanding global interest and youth engagement in preserving the Vietnamese language.
During their time in the capital, the newly recognized ambassadors will exchange experiences with participants in the pedagogical training course for overseas teachers and visit prominent historical and cultural landmarks across Hanoi.
(Source: Phap Luat Newspaper)
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