Vietnam's President Calls on Vietnamese Community in US to 'Turn the Page' and Contribute

Vietnamese President and Party General Secretary To Lam has called on the Vietnamese community in the United States to 'close the past and jointly build the nation's future' during a meeting on September 21st, US time. The event, attended by over 2,000 delegates including UN officials and representatives of the Vietnamese diaspora in the US, was reportedly the largest gathering of its kind between Vietnamese leadership and overseas communities. "In the community, there are many generations, many circumstances, and many different views on history. However, 'Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one,' that is an unchangeable truth," reported the Government electronic newspaper, citing Lam's speech. He emphasized that closing the past and building the future is a responsibility to future generations. Lam also referred to Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs, which he signed and issued on August 2nd. The resolution aims to enhance the effectiveness of work related to overseas Vietnamese. He urged the community in the US to contribute to Vietnam's development by connecting intellectuals and businesses, promoting educational and research exchanges, fostering innovation, and strengthening Vietnam-US relations. He affirmed that Resolution 23 highly values a receptive attitude towards constructive opinions, even differing viewpoints, for the common benefit of Vietnam. For years, the Vietnamese government's discourse has centered on 'national reconciliation and harmony.' However, significant differences persist, particularly in the interpretation of history between the government and the Vietnamese refugee community following the Vietnam War. Symbols of the former Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), such as the yellow flag with three red stripes, remain taboo. Images or videos featuring this flag are typically censored or blurred. The term 'Republic of Vietnam' is rarely mentioned in official media, often replaced by phrases like 'Saigon government' or 'Saigon regime,' and sometimes pejoratively as 'Saigon puppet regime.' The space for historical discussion remains constrained. Information disseminated through schools, books, and artistic works largely adheres to the narrative of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Perspectives from the other side, especially regarding past actions perceived as mistakes by the Party, are often dismissed or labeled as historical distortion. On online forums, derogatory terms like 'ba que' (a slur against Vietnamese who fled the country) and 'Cali khát nước' (a derogatory term for Vietnamese in California) are frequently used to attack those expressing views contrary to the Party's official stance. Instances of singers or artists who performed in venues where the yellow flag was present facing criticism and boycotts are not uncommon. In 2024, a trend emerged of taking photos with gestures of rejection and denigration towards the yellow flag displayed in the Vietnam Military History Museum, where it was labeled as a 'puppet flag' ('Cờ ngụy'), a term considered highly offensive. Source: BBC Vietnamese