Bound by Lac Hong blood: Connecting young overseas Vietnamese with Ho Chi Minh City

For 50 young Vietnamese from 17 countries and territories, understanding Ho Chi Minh City began with historic sites, incense and the stories of those who came before them. Their journey formed the 19th Overseas Vietnamese Youth Camp, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Office in late August.

The participants began by laying flowers at the monument to President Ho Chi Minh and paying tribute at the Nga Ba Giong National Historical Relic Site. Dang Tu Quynh, chairwoman of the Vietnamese Youth and Students Association in Japan, said that Vietnamese people may grow up anywhere in the world and carry diverse cultural experiences from their host countries, yet still feel a deep connection to their homeland.

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Youth camps, especially journeys that connect overseas Vietnamese youth around the world with their roots, are a sacred bridge that nurtures love of country, national pride and the traditional cultural identity of younger generations.

She described youth camps that bring the overseas Vietnamese community back to its roots as a sacred bridge. In her view, such programs nurture love of country, national pride and traditional cultural identity among younger generations.

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I also hope that more fallen soldiers will be found, identified and returned to their families.

This year's itinerary also included a ceremony at Le Thi Rieng Park. The group heard about the 500-day-and-night campaign to search for and collect the remains of fallen soldiers, as well as the wartime struggle of the people and forces of Saigon and Gia Dinh during the war against the United States. Quynh said she had previously read about the remains search in the media, but felt moved and proud after visiting the site, hearing about the work directly and seeing soldiers carrying it out.

"I also hope that more fallen soldiers will be found, identified and returned to their families," Quynh said. "Although we are overseas students, and some of our friends study, live and settle abroad, we remain united in looking toward our homeland and honoring our ancestors." The group later traveled to Con Dao, where participants visited Hang Duong Cemetery, historical sites and the Con Dao prison, and met families of former prisoners.

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Although we are overseas students, and some of our friends study, live and settle abroad, we remain united in looking toward our homeland and honoring our ancestors.