Nguyen Huy Thang, Chairman of Truong Sa Club in Germany:
The country always opens arms to welcome overseas compatriots back home
This is the first time I have attended the Homeland Spring Programme, after 31 years living far away from the country. What perhaps every overseas compatriot feels when they arrive in Hanoi these days is that the homeland always opens its arms to welcome overseas back home. All the activities of the programme, such as paying tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, burning incense to commemorate fallen soldiers who bravely sacrificed for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland, visiting Thang Long Imperial Citadel, setting up a Neu pole for the New Year and the releasing carp ritual, make us feel warm. The country is changing every day, especially in Hanoi with multiple modern infrastructure and new and spacious urban areas. OVs returning home also feel extremely excited, as they always remember and head towards the homeland.
I have returned to Vietnam many times to visit the old battlefields and find my comrades and also visited Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago once. For me, Truong Sa is not only a sacred outpost of the Fatherland, but also a place to meet and harmonise all the nation, where all Vietnamese hearts are always heading to. In our group, there were many expatriates who were on the other side of the battle line, but when we returned from Truong Sa, everyone thought it was a part of the nation and we all want to contribute our efforts to protect the nation’s sacred territory and waters.
Doan Van Vien, member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnamese Association in Angola, member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee:
Sharing and listening to the wishes of expatriates
Compared to my previous visits returning to Vietnam, this time I feel more clearly the cheerful and happy atmosphere of the people both at home and abroad. Vietnam has undergone a lot of changes, including the work related to OVs. Since the State promulgated policies and resolutions on OVs, especially when the State Committee for OVs Affairs was established, I felt very clearly that the Party and State were always interested in overseas compatriots, wishing to listen to their thoughts and aspirations and supporting OVs to integrate more deeply with the world, but without forgetting the homeland. I am also very happy as this time I heard directly from the leaders of the Party and State sharing their opinions and listening to the feelings and aspirations of OVs from many other countries.
The Vietnamese community in Angola has the largest number of OVs in African countries. OVs in Angola are always united and think of the country. Africa is a place with great potential for Vietnamese people to explore and invest in. Besides, with the increasingly favourable policies from the Party and State, OVs now have more conditions to be able to return to their homeland to invest and contribute to poverty reduction and national development.
Nguyen Thi Dinh, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Business Association in Bulgaria:
Hoping to have more opportunities to make contributions to the homeland
Full of honour and emotions are not only my own feelings, but also a great number of OVs from all over the world to attend the Homeland Spring Programme 2019. This is also the occasion for us to return home to visit families and relatives. I am very impressed by the great achievements our country has achieved in the past year, both in socio-economic and cultural aspects. Vietnam grows day by day, even every hour, everything is getting more and more beautiful. Supporting policies for OVs also receives a high consensus, which is beneficial for OV communities all over the world. It further motivates the OV community to turn towards the homeland and continue to contribute to the development of the nation.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2019, I hope the country will develop further. I myself as well as the OV community all over the world always want to have many opportunities to return to the homeland and join hands to contribute to the country's prosperity.
Hanh Le, an OV in the US:
Because I am Vietnamese
I feel very happy, as it is the first time I have returned to Vietnam to attend the Homeland Spring Programme 2019. I am also happy that this time I have the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. At the meeting with expatriates, PM Phuc listened to and expressed his enthusiasm for the comments of OVs. I myself am preparing to invest in Vietnam. With the project of building a smart city complex, we want to bring our gray matter to coordinate with the resources available in Vietnam, thus contributing to raising the country's position. We also hope to create more job opportunities for local people.
Many people asked me why I came back to Vietnam to invest, I often answered, I came back because I am Vietnamese. That's what makes me so proud. Another reason is that Vietnam is developing, and the Vietnamese people are very diligent and intelligent. The Party and State’s policies create better conditions for OVs to return to invest in their homeland, contributing to enriching the country.
