Expats of Neighboring Countries Celebrate Their New Year in Vietnam
	Traditional New Year Festivals of Several Asian Countries Celebrated in Hanoi

A large number of Lao and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City attended the traditional New Year festival. (Photo: VNA)

Attending the festival were Phonesy Bounmixay, Consul General of Laos in Ho Chi Minh City; Chan Sorykan, Consul General of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City; representatives of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City; along with numerous students and members of the Cambodian, Lao, and Thai communities living, studying, and working in the city.

Speaking at the event, Ho Xuan Lam, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, emphasized that Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand are close neighboring countries within the ASEAN community, with a long-standing tradition of solidarity and mutual support over the years. The countries have consistently stood side by side, sharing and working toward the common goal of building a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and prosperous ASEAN Community.

The Cambodian-Lao-Thai Traditional New Year Festival, held annually in Ho Chi Minh City, is a meaningful people-to-people diplomatic activity that contributes to consolidating and developing friendly relations between Vietnam and countries in the region. Through the reenactment of distinctive customs and traditions, the event creates a cultural exchange space, enhancing mutual understanding and strengthening bonds among nations.

Monks perform the water-splashing ritual to pray for peace and offer blessings to participants at the festival. (Photo: VNA)

Within the framework of the festival, many distinctive traditional rituals were held, such as incense offering for peace, Buddha bathing, wrist-tying ceremonies, and water-splashing for blessings, typical practices of Cambodia’s Chol Chhnam Thmey, Laos’ Bunpimay, and Thailand’s Songkran festivals. These rituals carry profound spiritual significance, expressing wishes for a peaceful and fortunate new year, while also reflecting similarities in the cultural and spiritual life of Southeast Asian nations.

Extending blessings to festival participants, Most Venerable Thich Thien Tam, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council and Deputy Head of the International Buddhist Affairs Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, as well as Head of the International Buddhist Affairs Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized the value of great unity and harmony among peoples and nations - fundamental elements contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development.

On behalf of the Consuls General, Phonesy Bounmixay expressed his pleasure at attending the festival and thanked the authorities and people of Ho Chi Minh City for their attention and support in enabling the Lao, Cambodian, and Thai communities to preserve and promote their traditional cultural identities. According to him, organizing such festivals helps bring peoples of different countries closer together, strengthening solidarity and working toward shared development goals.

On this occasion, the organizing committee awarded scholarships to Lao and Cambodian students studying in Ho Chi Minh City, demonstrating practical care and support for the younger generation - important bridges in fostering friendly relations among nations.

Scholarships were awarded to Lao and Cambodian students studying in the city. (Photo: VNA)

The festival took place in a joyful and warm atmosphere with the participation of a large number of international community members and local residents, thereby reaffirming Ho Chi Minh City’s role as a hub of cultural convergence and exchange, and as an important bridge in Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy.

Continuing the series of activities, on April 12, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations organized the 2026 Cambodian-Lao Traditional New Year Sports Festival for students and communities of the two countries living, studying, and working in the city. The sports festival features football, badminton, and traditional games, along with cultural exchange activities and traditional cuisine, contributing to spreading the spirit of solidarity and friendship among peoples in the region.

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