A Warm New Year in motherland

"Coming back home to meet people, to gather to welcome Tet at home is very cozy and meaningful" - It is feeling of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Sanh, an overseas Vietnamese, who returned from Ireland shared with us in meeting of Nham Thi new year of Thai Nguyen people in foreign country and foreigners in Thai Nguyen, which was held in the afternoon of January 18th by Provincial People’s Committee.

In the warm and close atmosphere of the meeting, many overseas Vietnamese did not hide their joy, because in this Tet, they had not only warmth from their family relatives in Viet Nam, but also the interest, respect the local authorities. This is an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to exchange, share their thoughts, their desire with provincial leaders when coming back to study investment opportunities at homeland. Talking to us, Mr. Luong Nam Xuong, an overseas Vietnamese from Ireland, said: "I and some overseas Vietnamese living in Ireland returned Viet Nam and took surveys in some localities such as Phu Binh, Pho Yen, Dong Hy, Dai Tu and decided to invest in eco-tourism services development in Dong Hy district in 2012”. According to his analysis, Thai Nguyen has a temperate, cool climate, provincial governments have more open, advantageous policies for overseas Vietnamese to return and invest in economic development at home. Moreover in recent years, social-economic development of Thai Nguyen province is very quick with the emergence of more and more production and trade enterprises. Hence the demand for entertainment services will be suitable selection for him to decide to invest in Thai Nguyen in the coming year.

To Vietnamese people who live far from Viet Nam, they come back in this Tet to feel the warmth, sacredness of a traditional holiday, and brought their desire of contributing to build the country; however, to foreigners working and living in Thai Nguyen, greeting Tet in Viet Nam is a new cultural exploration with exciting emotions. Ms. M. Shirley Finocchiaro, from the U.S., said: "I came to Vietnam to participate in teaching at the universities, this year I have chance to participate in traditional Tet, I feel very happy. In particular, in the beginning meeting of spring, we have met leaderships of Thai Nguyen province, and made friend with many people from all over the world, who are working in Viet Nam as we do. Tet in your country is very special and extraordinary cuisine and dishes are also very interesting. After returning home, I will tell my friends about Tet in Vietnam, especially, Chung cake and pickleed welsh onion - it's really strange and attractive.".

From China - a country also has the traditional holiday which is similar to Viet Nam, Mr. Vien Tan Kien, Deputy Director of Metallurgical Corp of China (MCC), said: "In the New Year,  I miss home much but to ensure the progress of stage II of the Thai Nguyen Steel Company, I and my colleagues stay in Viet Nam to work. Therefore, participating in the meeting of the New Year makes me feel very happy. I would like to thank the leadership of Thai Nguyen for their interests and welcome to us with a warm and friendly Tet.”.

At the meeting, many overseas Vietnamese, foreigners working in Thai Nguyen have expressed their happiness when they had chance to welcome Tet in Viet Nam, their appreciation for the achievements of Thai Nguyen in the socio-economic development and they would like to contribute to the construction of Thai Nguyen in particular and Viet Nam in general. Responding this heartiness, Mr. Duong Ngoc Long, Deputy Province Committee Secretary, Chairman of Provincial People’s Committee thanked the contribution of overseas Vietnamese and foreigners for Thai Nguyen development and promised to continue to create the most favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to invest at home as well as the interest on all aspects of foreigners who live and work in Thai Nguyen.

This is the second year that the meeting between Thai Nguyen people in foreign countries and foreigners in Thai Nguyen province was held in the occasion of New Year. This activity is not only the value of encouraging overseas Vietnamese and foreigners working in Thai Nguyen, but also enhances the relationship between provincial government and foreign enterprises, representatives of the Thai Nguyen people who are living in foreign countries and international organizations,  create motivation for the development of the province. However, in this year, due to lack of information of Thai Nguyen people in foreign countries, and because of busy work, many overseas Vietnamese should not turn back to Viet Nam to attend this meeting. Talking with us, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Director of Department of Foreign Affairs, said that Thai Nguyen province will coordinate with the Committee of overseas Vietnamese to make a specific statistics list of Thai Nguyen people who are living and working abroad, and from that the New Year messages and invitation of coming back to welcome Tet will be sent to them annual Tet holiday from leaderships of People’s Committee.