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🇻🇳 Vietnam /Culture & Society

Vietnamese diaspora in Thailand anticipates historic state visit

From Tuổi Trẻ · () Vietnamese

Translated from Vietnamese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Vietnamese President Tô Lâm's upcoming visit to Thailand is seen as historically significant by the Vietnamese diaspora there.
  • The visit includes a stop at the Hồ Chí Minh relic site in Udon Thani, honoring the community's roots.
  • The diaspora expresses pride in their contributions to Thailand and Vietnam, highlighting growing acceptance and cultural exchange.

The Vietnamese community in Thailand, particularly in Udon Thani, is expressing immense pride and high expectations for the upcoming state visit by Vietnamese President Tô Lâm on May 27-28. Ken Pitpatchaisiri (Trần Văn Kiều), a former Thai senator of Vietnamese descent, views the visit as a historically significant event and a testament to Vietnam's deep interest in bilateral relations and the diaspora.

For us, this is not just a diplomatic event – this is pride.

· ken pitpatchaisiriExpressing the community's sentiment about the significance of President Tô Lâm's visit.

Pitpatchaisiri highlighted the emotional impact of the President's itinerary, which includes a visit to the Hồ Chí Minh relic site in Udon Thani. This stop is particularly meaningful for the first-generation Vietnamese immigrants, many now over 75, who endured hardship upon arriving in Thailand. Their contributions, including financial support for Vietnam's resistance, are remembered, and seeing the highest Vietnamese leader visit them in their later years is a profound fulfillment.

The fact that the Vietnamese leadership chose Thailand as the first destination in ASEAN in their new role shows deep concern for bilateral relations and the diaspora here.

· ken pitpatchaisiriHighlighting the importance of Vietnam's focus on Thailand and its diaspora.

The diaspora's success as entrepreneurs in Thailand has fostered greater acceptance of Vietnamese culture. Udon Thani's Vietnamese street, the first officially recognized in the world, is a symbol of this integration. Pitpatchaisiri himself has actively promoted cultural exchange, transforming his family's hardware store into a Thai-Vietnamese cultural hub and restaurant named 'Xin chào'. This initiative, inspired by the Vietnamese ambassador's suggestion to create something more 'Vietnamese,' serves as a meeting point for the community.

Seeing the highest leader of Vietnam visit in their final years is a great fulfillment for them.

· ken pitpatchaisiriDescribing the emotional significance of the visit for elderly Vietnamese immigrants.

Despite past challenges in Thai-Vietnamese relations, the two nations now share a more open and cooperative relationship. In a world marked by instability and conflict, the importance of sincere cooperation between neighboring countries is paramount. The visit signifies a strengthening of these ties, fostering mutual learning and understanding.

What's important is not how many products are used, but whether our skin is ready to receive them.

· ken pitpatchaisiriReflecting on the success of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Thailand and their contribution to cultural acceptance.
About this summary

Originally published by Tuổi Trẻ in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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