| Recognizing the strategic importance of the Vietnamese language, on August 3, 2022, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 930/QĐ-TTg approving the project “Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day among Overseas Vietnamese Communities for the 2023-2030 Period” (the Project). Accordingly, September 8 each year is designated as Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day, becoming an annual milestone aimed at spreading love for the mother tongue, encouraging the movement of teaching and learning Vietnamese, strengthening national identity, fostering unity, and elevating the status of the Vietnamese language across multiple fields. |
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Decision No. 930/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister approves the Project “Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day among Overseas Vietnamese Communities for the 2023-2030 Period.”
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| Speaking at the Closing Ceremony of Vietnamese Language Appreciation Day 2025 held in Hanoi in August 2025, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that the Project has come to life and has gradually developed into a widespread movement within overseas Vietnamese communities. During overseas missions, leaders of the Party and the State always make time to meet with the Vietnamese diaspora, listen to their sentiments and aspirations, and entrust them with the responsibility of maintaining the Vietnamese language. On these occasions, sets of Vietnamese-language books are presented and placed at Vietnamese representative missions, associations, libraries, and schools - locations where Vietnamese communities reside. |
Honoring the Vietnamese Language Ambassadors abroad in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
| Preserving the Vietnamese language is not only a responsibility but also a strategic mission to maintain identity and strengthen the global Vietnamese community. The Project aims to raise awareness of the Vietnamese language and culture among overseas Vietnamese and international friends worldwide, especially the younger generation; to widely promote love for the Vietnamese language, serving as a driving force for teaching and learning Vietnamese within the community; and to contribute to preserving and advancing the nation’s cultural identity and traditions. It also lays the foundation for a new phase in elevating the status of the Vietnamese language across various fields of community education. Through honoring the national language, the Project contributes to building a stable, united, and strong overseas Vietnamese community that actively contributes to the homeland and promotes the recognition of overseas Vietnamese communities as an official ethnic minority in countries with large Vietnamese populations. |
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The spouse of Party General Secretary To Lam, Ngo Phuong Ly (second from right), presents the library with a collection of Vietnamese books.
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| Since the Project’s implementation, numerous Vietnamese language learning movements and cultural and educational activities have flourished. The contest “Vietnamese Language Ambassador Abroad” is a notable example. Over three seasons, 16 Vietnamese Language Ambassadors have been honored, becoming pioneering figures in preserving and promoting the Vietnamese language in their respective localities. The annual “Beloved Vietnamese Language Gala”, held every September 8, has become an event that brings together outstanding individuals, celebrating the Vietnamese language while encouraging learning movements within the community. |
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse present a Vietnamese Bookshelf to the Vietnamese community in Sweden on June 11, 2025.
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| The Vietnamese Bookshelf, comprising thousands of donated books, not only provides knowledge but also creates an environment for cultural engagement and language practice. These bookshelves are placed at embassies, association centers, libraries, and schools in many countries, helping the younger generation directly access the national language and culture, maintain reading habits, and explore their roots. According to Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, in 2025, more than 5,600 books and Vietnamese-language teaching materials were donated to localities with Vietnamese communities. Many localities in Vietnam have also actively contributed: Ho Chi Minh City donated six bookshelves to communities in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Laos; An Giang and Dong Nai provided books and scholarships to students of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia. Ministries, sectors, and press agencies have coordinated with associations to implement numerous initiatives in teaching and preserving Vietnamese, forming a widespread educational network. |
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The Vietnamese Bookshelf was inaugurated at the Vietnam Cultural Center in Paris (France) on July 20, 2024.
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| In addition, the Vietnamese language has been integrated into various cultural and artistic activities. The Vietnam Summer Camp, Vietnamese language clubs, storytelling sessions, poetry readings, folk singing lessons, and extracurricular activities such as making banh chung or preparing Tet gifts all incorporate Vietnamese. These programs create natural learning environments that help young overseas Vietnamese stay connected to the language, understand Vietnamese history and customs, and develop a sense of national identity. As a result, Vietnamese is no longer perceived as a distant subject but becomes part of everyday life - a symbol of one’s roots and national pride. |
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Through the annual Vietnam Summer Camp, young members of the Vietnamese diaspora nurture their patriotism and national pride, contributing to the preservation and promotion of love for the Vietnamese language worldwide.
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| Teachers and volunteers play an essential and increasingly visible role. From home-based classes to online lessons, from clubs to summer camps, every activity aims to disseminate the value of the Vietnamese language and encourage young people to stay connected to their mother tongue. One notable initiative is the Global Network for Vietnamese Language and Culture Teaching, launched by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka on September 29, 2025. The Network serves as a “shared home” linking teachers, parents, and learners of Vietnamese around the world. According to Nguyen Duy Anh, President of the Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka and Secretary-General of the Network, it pursues three core objectives: preserving and developing Vietnamese as an enduring symbol of national identity; connecting the global Vietnamese community while fostering pride and solidarity; and promoting the image of a modern, friendly, and culturally rich Vietnam to the world. Leveraging digital platforms, the Network offers online classes, builds an electronic learning resource hub, organizes international seminars, and connects teachers across five continents, creating a borderless learning environment. |
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Wall-newspaper projects created by students of the Lac Long Quan Vietnamese School (Warsaw, Poland).
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| The results achieved in the three years of implementing the Project show that when State policies are harmonized with the efforts of the community, associations, teachers, and volunteers, the Vietnamese language can spread sustainably, becoming a solid spiritual foundation for the global Vietnamese community. Preserving the Vietnamese language is not only a cultural responsibility but also a strategy to strengthen community resilience, safeguard national identity, and elevate the status of Vietnamese in an increasingly integrated international environment. Vietnamese becomes a bridge connecting the past, present, and future - a cultural and spiritual symbol, and a thread linking Vietnamese communities across the globe. |
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A weekly class at the Cay Tre Vietnamese School (Osaka, Japan).
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Despite the many positive outcomes, the effort to preserve and promote Vietnamese among overseas Vietnamese communities continues to face significant challenges. Maintaining bookshelves and Vietnamese classes requires financial and human resources; in many countries, educational regulations limit the integration of Vietnamese language programs; and cooperation with local schools still poses numerous difficulties.
Given this context, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs has identified the need to further strengthen communication efforts, diversify activities, mobilize the participation of associations and younger generations, and combine Vietnamese language promotion with cultural, artistic, and sports initiatives.
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Many Vietnamese families abroad continue to embrace their roots through traditional clothing, Tet cuisine, and the beloved Vietnamese language.
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| According to experts, long-term effectiveness relies on a coordinated set of solutions: expanding bookshelves and implementing rotating collections among families, clubs, and associations; developing online learning programs combined with traditional instruction; building digital resource libraries, videos, podcasts, and interactive games to make Vietnamese more engaging for young learners; organizing camps, extracurricular activities, and cultural-artistic-sports events to make the language a vibrant part of community life; and establishing networks of teachers and volunteers that connect classes across countries, share curricula and experience, and facilitate effective Vietnamese-language practice. |
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Vietnamese Language Appreciation Ceremony in Laos, 2025.
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By: Phan Anh
Graphics: Mai Anh
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Phan Anh
