Vietnamese Youth Abroad Mark National Day with Nostalgia and Pride

As Vietnam commemorates its National Day on September 2, young Vietnamese living and studying abroad are finding unique ways to honor their homeland, far from home. Mai Ngoc Linh, a 22-year-old student at Ningxia University in China, expresses a sense of regret for missing the festive atmosphere back in Vietnam. She plans to spend the day reflecting on the meaning of Independence Day and expressing gratitude to national heroes in her journal. She fondly recalls the sight of the national flag, a yellow star on a red field, adorning streetscapes back home, and felt a surge of pride watching the military parade broadcast last year. In South Korea, Nguyen Yen Quyen, 25, a student at Myongji University, along with other Vietnamese peers, creates an authentic holiday atmosphere by streaming commemorative festivities and following updates from Vietnam. They often gather at Vietnamese-owned coffee shops or restaurants to converse in their mother tongue, reminisce about home, and bridge the distance. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, 24, also studying at Inje University in South Korea, is marking his second Independence Day away from home. On what is an ordinary school day, he dedicates time to following domestic news and calling his family. Khanh notes that the sea of red flags, once a familiar sight he took for granted, now evokes a "sacred weight and pride" when seen on his phone screen from abroad. He often meets fellow Vietnamese friends to share home-cooked meals and discuss their expatriate lives and stories from home. "No matter how far I travel, whenever someone asks ‘Where are you from?’, I feel immense pride answering, ‘I am from Vietnam.’ Living abroad taught me that your homeland is not merely where you were born; it is a permanent piece of your identity," Khanh shared. In Aichi Prefecture, Japan, 26-year-old worker Nguyen Dinh Nhat typically works his usual shift on September 2, as it falls on a regular weekday. Over his five years in Japan, most Independence Days have been standard workdays. Nevertheless, he stays connected to the celebrations back home by following social media updates and reading news articles. Living abroad, Nhat has realized that patriotism often surfaces in simple acts: speaking Vietnamese, bonding with fellow countrymen, learning more about national history, and proudly declaring his Vietnamese heritage wherever he goes. These young individuals, despite the physical distance, are turning Vietnam's National Day into an occasion to reflect on their homeland and reaffirm their identity. Their pride in Vietnam serves as an unwavering support in their lives abroad.