Vietnamese in Sri Lanka gather for early Tet celebration
The Vietnamese Embassy in Colombo hosted an early Lunar New Year celebration on January 5, bringing together hundreds of Vietnamese living and working in Sri Lanka.
At the early Lunar New Year celebration in Colombo on January 5. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – ಞThe Vietnamese Embassy in Colombo hosted an early Lunar New Year celebration on January 5, bringing together hundreds of Vietnamese living and working in Sri Lanka.
The event was also attended by the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka - Viet Nam Solidarity Association and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka.
In her address, Ambassador Trinh Thi Tam highlighted Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in 2024, particularly its position as a regional and global economic bright spot. The country achieved a GDP growth rate of over 7% and a trade surplus of about 25 billion USD. Foreign investment reached nearly 40 billion USD while tourist arrivals approached the pre-pandemic levels at more than 18 million visitors.
She also underscored Vietnam’s robust diplomatic progress both bilaterally and multilaterally, further strengthening its international standing and prestige, while commending the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka for their contributions to both local development and bilateral relations.
Last year, despite the host nation’s political, security and economic challenges, the community actively participated in various cultural events, including the celebration of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday, National Day, Vietnamese Women’s Day, and international charity bazaar, helping foreigners have a better insight into the Vietnamese people and culture. The community also demonstrated their solidarity by raising fund to support victims of Typhoon Yagi in the homeland, she stated.
Looking ahead to 2025, the diplomat said the embassy will organise an array of political, cultural, and economic activities as two countries are celebrating their 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations while Vietnam will commemorate several historic milestones like the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 80th National Day, and 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification. She expressed her hope that the events will receive enthusiastic response and support from the community.
Tam also said she wishes that the overseas Vietnamese will continue upholding solidarity as well as promoting and preserving the homeland’s cultural traits, pledging support to build a community with stronger bonds and development.
At the event, she presented certificates of merit to three individuals with standout contributions to community work and cultural promotion in the host nation./.
Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Le Thi Thu Hang had a working visit to learn about the Vietnamese community in Melbourne from December 18-19 as part of her working visit to Australia.
The Consulate General of Vietnam in Perth, Australia, recently collaborated with University of Western Australia (UWA) to organise a “Homeland Spring” programme for the Vietnamese community there, which spotlighted a message of solidarity and looking towards the homeland.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
