Overseas Vietnamese in Udon Thani invite President Ho Chi Minh to celebrate the New Year with them. (Photo: VNA)

According to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reporters in Thailand, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Udon Thani is one of three historical locations marking Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities in Thailand from 1928 to 1929. Every year, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese descendants in Udon Thani prepare traditional offerings such as sticky rice, chicken, chung cake (sticky rice cakes), and Vietnamese pork sausage, alongside fragrant flowers and fresh fruits, to symbolically invite President Ho Chi Minh to celebrate the New Year with them.

They also maintain the tradition of offering symbolic items associated with Ho Chi Minh’s life, such as a white pith helmet and rubber sandals.

Ms. Phan Thi Thoa, an overseas Vietnamese in Udon Thani, expressed: "Everyone here remembers and deeply appreciates Uncle Ho’s contributions. Without him, we wouldn't have what we have today. Preparing a meal in his honor preserves Vietnamese traditions and brings the community together in unity."

With tears in his eyes, Mr. Vu Duy Chinh, another overseas Vietnamese, shared: "Without President Ho Chi Minh, there would be no Vietnam. Without Vietnam, there would be no overseas Vietnamese community. His contributions from 1928–1929 left an everlasting legacy."

Beyond remembering President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese community also takes pride in Vietnam’s achievements and looks forward to 2025 as a year of further national growth. Mr. Vu Duy Chinh added: "I am immensely proud and excited to see Vietnam rising in a new era, attracting global investment."

In addition to Lunar New Year celebrations, the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani also holds incense offerings on Ho Chi Minh’s birthday (May 19) and Vietnam’s National Day (September 2). These gatherings strengthen their solidarity and maintain their connection to their homeland, following Ho Chi Minh’s teachings./.

Compiled by BTA