Vietnamese language promoted among overseas communities. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – A press briefing on the 2024 Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day and a gala to honour the language was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) in Hà Nội on Friday.

Nguyễn Mạnh Đông, Deputy Chairman of the SCOV, highlighted success of this year’s celebration, which included a variety of activities both at home and abroad which have made significant strides in promoting and preserving Vietnamese among overseas Vietnamese communities.

The "Vietnamese Language Ambassador" contest attracted greater number of participants this year compared to 2023, with 158 entries from 14 countries.

Among the five outstanding ambassadors named, one was an 8-year-old overseas Vietnamese student, and another was a Lao enthusiast for the Vietnamese language. The contest encourages younger generations to preserve the Vietnamese language, fostering cultural connections worldwide.

The “Gratitude” initiative, organised in cooperation with the ministry, the Vietnam Education Publishing House, and various overseas Vietnamese associations, aims to honour individuals and organisations for their active promotion of the Vietnamese language preservation. It has been successfully implemented in countries like France and the Czech Republic, with plans for expansion.

Efforts to establish the Vietnamese Language Bookshelf project have continued, with five bookshelves now supporting communities in countries such as Austria, Laos, and Hungary.

Various Vietnamese cultural centres and associations worldwide have been actively involved in organising forums, seminars, and discussions on teaching methods for Vietnamese. Events like Lunar New Year and National Day celebrations are also integrated with Vietnamese language promotion efforts, contributing to the preservation of the cultural identity.

The “Beloved Vietnamese” gala on September 8 will honour the top five ambassadors and recognise the contributions by individuals and organisations in promoting the Vietnamese language. VNS