Vietnam Focuses on Preserving 'Vietnamese Identity' for Overseas Generations

The Vietnamese government is strategically prioritizing the preservation of the Vietnamese language and national culture among overseas Vietnamese generations. This initiative is based on the understanding that maintaining the Vietnamese language not only preserves the language itself but also safeguards culture, national identity, and ensures the 'Vietnamese identity' for future generations, thereby strengthening ties with Vietnamese communities worldwide. As part of this effort, the Prime Minister approved a plan concerning the 'Day to Honor the Vietnamese Language in Overseas Vietnamese Communities' in 2022. This plan is expected to significantly transform the landscape of Vietnamese language education abroad. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, who has taught Vietnamese for over ten years in Malaysia, expressed her deep emotion upon receiving national recognition for her long and quiet efforts. She stated that even while living abroad, she feels connected to her homeland. Mr. Nguyen Duy Anh, a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Secretary-General of the Global Vietnamese Language and Culture Education Network, has contributed to the formation of this network, originating from community classes in Japan. He shared that his experiences living in Japan made him appreciate the value of the Vietnamese language, culture, and his homeland more profoundly. Mr. Anh is concerned about the situation where children born abroad, despite loving Vietnam, cannot fully communicate with their grandparents in their mother tongue. He points out that personal emotions, such as the desire to connect with family and roots, can be a significant motivation for preserving the Vietnamese language. Stemming from these experiences, he established the 'Global Vietnamese Language and Culture Education Network' to connect Vietnamese language teachers and classes operating individually worldwide, facilitating resource sharing and the dissemination of effective models. Currently, the network connects thousands of teachers, parents, volunteers, and enthusiasts of the Vietnamese language globally. 'If a generation loses its mother tongue, they risk drifting away from the nation's history and the cultural values passed down through generations. Therefore, preserving the Vietnamese language is nothing less than preserving the 'Vietnamese identity' for future generations,' emphasized Mr. Anh. The Vietnamese government is increasing its focus on Vietnamese language education abroad, with active cooperation from embassies, Vietnamese associations, teachers, and parents. Mr. Anh stated, 'The most important aspect is the formation of a common understanding that preserving the Vietnamese language is not just about maintaining the language, but also about preserving culture, identity, and the connection of the Vietnamese community worldwide.' Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet also noted, 'The Party and the State pay special attention to the preservation and promotion of the Vietnamese language, and by extension, the development of national culture as a whole. We hope that our compatriots abroad will always pay attention to teaching and learning the Vietnamese language for their children – the future generation of the community – and to preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional values of the nation to local communities and international friends.' The plan for the 'Day to Honor the Vietnamese Language in Overseas Vietnamese Communities' for the period 2023-2030, approved by the Prime Minister on August 3, 2022, is considered a breakthrough in maintaining and developing the Vietnamese language within overseas Vietnamese communities. Source: Nhan Dan