As many as 170 outstanding young overseas Vietnamese from across theworld are enthusiastically attending a summer camp highlighting thenation’s sea and island sovereignty as well as cultural and historicalvalues.

Organised by the State Committee for OverseasVietnamese Affairs (COVA) since 2003, the annual event creates anopportunity for young expatriates to enhance solidarity and exchangeswith fellows at home, said Vice Chairman Dang The Hung.

Participants embarked on a cross-country tour from July 8, during whichthey will participate in a string of activities such as visitingPresident Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, meeting with fishermen, and enjoyingspecial art performances on seas and islands.

“On the first daywe had nice experience with a presenter who spoke in the dialects ofVietnam’s three different regions. This helps us understand more aboutthe Vietnamese language”, said 16-year-old Le Thi Ngoc Yen from Poland.

Meanwhile, this is the fifth time 18-year-old Tran Duy An fromHungary has returned to Vietnam. He said the Vietnamese community inHungary are all thinking of the homeland, especially after Chinaillegally placed its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters in early May.

According to An, the community frequently organise cultural activitiesand Vietnamese classes for children in an effort to preserve thetraditions and mother tongue.

Vu Long Van from Ohio, the US,said the summer camp gives overseas Vietnamese youth like him a goodchance to learn more about the culture and the life in their homeland.-VNA