BANGKOK — On Saturday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation from Việt Nam offered incense and flowers in tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh at a memorial complex dedicated to the late leader in the May Village in the northeastern Thai province of Nakhon Pathom. 

As the largest site of its kind in Thailand, the memorial complex was built to honour the late President who helped local residents build houses, grow trees and catch fish to improve their lives during his journey for national salvation in 1928. 

The complex was completed in 2016 on the occasion of the 126th birthday of President Hồ Chí Minh and the 40th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Thailand.

 
The same day, Phúc and his entourage visited the Thailand–Việt Nam Friendship Village in May, where Uncle Hồ arrived in July 1928 and more than 90 per cent of the residents are Vietnamese nationals. 

Talking with more than 500 Vietnamese in the locality, Phúc said the Party and State considered overseas Vietnamese an indispensable part of the nation. He asked them to promote the teaching of Vietnamese to younger generations so that they can act as a bridge linking the two nations together. 

On the occasion, he offered gifts to the General Vietnamese Association in Thailand and presented Hồ Chí Minh badges to 15 outstanding officials of Nakhon Pathom in recognition of their contributions to bilateral ties. 

Earlier the same day, the Prime Minister held a meeting with 200 Vietnamese entrepreneurs working in Thailand, during which he expressed his wish that they would continue offering mutual support to each other to expand business operations. 

The businesspeople suggested launching a direct flight between Nakhon Pathom and Hà Nội to facilitate trade and increase the number and quality of the Vietnamese workforce in Thailand 

Before concluding their official visit to Thailand, the Prime Minister and his spouse visited and presented gifts to teachers and students of the Nakhon Pathom–Hà Nội Culture and Friendship Centre. 

The centre was inaugurated in 2008 with a view to offering Vietnamese language training to first-to-sixth grade students and short-term courses for those interested in the Vietnamese language.

Meeting with the Governor of Nakhon Pathom

During his visit to Nakhon Pathom, Prime Minister Phúc and Governor of Nakhon Pathom Province of Thailand Somchai Witdamrong agreed to foster co-operative ties between Nakhon Pathom and Việt Nam’s border provinces to enhance road, seaway and aviation connectivity, thereby bringing practical benefits to these localities and people of both nations. 

Phúc shared his sympathy with Witdamrong over losses caused by recent floods in the province, believing that local residents would soon overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives. 

He thanked the provincial administration for creating favourable conditions for 10,000 Vietnamese nationals to live in the province as well as for the construction of a memorial site dedicated to late President Hồ Chí Minh. 

Witdamrong, for his part, affirmed that the provincial authorities would always create favourable conditions for Vietnamese-Thai people residing and doing business in Nakhon Pathom. 

The host said Nakhon Pathom was working closely with Việt Nam’s central localities, including forming twinning relations with Hà Tĩnh Province. 

He pledged to preserve and promote tourism at common heritages of the Thai and Vietnamese people such as the Friendship Village, the Nakhon Pathom–Hà Nội Vietnamese language teaching centre and Clock Tower. — VNS