The program was jointly held by the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV), Hà Nội People’s Committee, Việt Nam Television and some competent agencies in Hà Nội to welcome expatriate Vietnamese who go home for the traditional Lunar New Year Festival.

Attending the event, State President Nguyễn Minh Triết said that, for Vietnamese people, “the spring is the season of family reunification.”

He hailed the overseas Vietnamese community for their active role in business, health, education and poverty reducing activities in the homeland last year.

“The Party and State always respect contributions of overseas Vietnamese and consider this community an indispensable component of the Vietnamese nation,” the President reaffirmed.

President Triết took the occasion to ask expatriate Vietnamese to engage deeper in the cause of national construction.

“Whatever you do to make the country powerful, our people prosperous, our society equal, democratic and civilized, will be acknowledged by the Party, State and people,” said President Triết.

Many impressive art performances in the Motherland Spring program, Hà Nội, February 6, 2010

Earlier, in the afternoon, at the vestige site of the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, overseas Vietnamese enjoyed some folk festivals and traditional rites, including an incense-offering ceremony in memory of emperors of the Lý, Trần and Lê Dynasties.

The special cultural event drew the participation of about 1,000 expatriate Vietnamese and nearly 10,000 visitors.

Incense-offering ceremony in memory of emperors of the Lý, Trần and Lê Dynasties, Hà Nội, February 6, 2010

According to Deputy FM Nguyễn Thanh Sơn, SCOV Director, the overseas Vietnamese community has made great efforts to maintain, preserve and develop national traditions.

Last year, nearly 900 representatives from 52 countries and territories attended the 1st Conference of Overseas Vietnamese held in Hà Nội.

Source: VGP