On September 8, 2025, a remarkable milestone unfolded in Northeast Thailand as the first-ever Vietnamese Language Honor Day event was celebrated at Udon Thani Royal University. The gathering, a vibrant blend of in-person and online participation, marked a significant chapter for the Vietnamese community in the region—and indeed, for the preservation and promotion of the Vietnamese language far beyond its national borders.
This historic event was orchestrated by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen, in partnership with Udon Thani Royal University, Hanoi National University of Education, the Vietnamese Association in Udon Thani Province, and the FPT Group. According to TTXVN, the event drew a diverse crowd: teachers, language experts, cultural researchers, leaders of Vietnamese and Thai-Vietnamese associations, and a large contingent of overseas Vietnamese. The proceedings were not limited to one location; live connections linked the main venue to multiple sites in Vietnam, the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok, and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, Japan, ensuring the event’s resonance was felt widely.
For many attendees, the day carried a deep sense of pride and nostalgia. Vietnamese Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh delivered an emotional opening speech, recalling a pivotal moment nearly a century ago. "Nearly 100 years ago, during revolutionary activities in Thailand, President Ho Chi Minh opened the first Vietnamese language class in Udon Thani for overseas Vietnamese, laying the foundation for the Vietnamese language learning movement in the area," he recounted, as reported by Nhân Dân. This act, he emphasized, was not just about language but about forging a collective identity and preserving a cultural legacy.
Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh further highlighted the enduring value of language, quoting President Ho Chi Minh’s words from September 8, 1962: "Language is an extremely long-lasting and precious asset of a nation. We must preserve it, cherish it, and make it increasingly widespread." These words, spoken 63 years prior to the event, still ring true today. In recognition of this legacy and the importance of language, the Vietnamese government, in August 2022, officially designated September 8 as Vietnamese Language Honor Day for overseas communities, a decision that set the stage for this inaugural celebration in Thailand.
Throughout the generations, the Vietnamese community in Thailand has demonstrated a passionate commitment to their roots. Their deep patriotic love and special respect for President Ho Chi Minh have manifested in tireless efforts to preserve and promote both the Vietnamese language and broader cultural traditions. As Consul General Dinh Hoang Linh put it, "Vietnamese is the sacred flame that preserves and promotes the cultural identity, history, soul, and tradition of Vietnam. It is an indispensable means of daily communication, fostering community bonds and transmitting the spirit of peace and cooperation to friends around the world."
The day’s agenda was packed with meaningful activities. Two major events stood out: the "Vietnamese Language Work Summary Conference 2025," which reviewed the past year’s efforts and charted a course for strengthening Vietnamese teaching and learning in 2026, and the opening ceremony for a training course aimed at boosting the teaching skills of overseas Vietnamese educators and volunteers. This training program, the first of its kind in Northeast Thailand, is designed to empower teachers—many of whom are themselves part of the diaspora—to inspire a renewed passion for Vietnamese language learning among younger generations.
Dr. Viboon Pensuk, Vice Rector of Udon Thani Royal University, spoke to the importance of institutional support for these efforts. He noted that the university’s Center for Vietnamese Studies continues to serve as a vital bridge in educational, cultural, and academic cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam. The center has organized regular training for students majoring in Vietnamese language pedagogy, facilitated student exchanges and internships, and hosted cultural immersion programs with Vietnamese universities. "Our aim for 2026 is to develop a data center and publish bilingual teaching materials to support Vietnamese language research, teaching, and promotion," Dr. Pensuk explained. "We hope to gradually build the Center into a model for Vietnamese Studies not only in Thailand but also across ASEAN."
The impact of these initiatives has already been felt. Mr. Songpon Baolopet, Director of the Center for Vietnamese Studies at Udon Thani Royal University, highlighted that in 2025, the center successfully hosted its second basic Vietnamese language course, attracting over 30 learners from across Northeast and Central Thailand, as well as neighboring Laos. He also pointed to the success of the Vietnamese Language and Culture Camp held in Surin, which brought together more than 40 schools nationwide with Vietnamese language programs. "We are expanding academic cooperation, increasing student and faculty exchanges with leading Vietnamese universities, and aiming to build a research network for Vietnamese Studies throughout Thailand and ASEAN," Mr. Baolopet said.
For many in the community, the stakes are personal. Mr. Luong Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Udon Thani Province, expressed his gratitude that the event was held in the region. "Vietnamese has accompanied the development of the Vietnamese people for thousands of years," he remarked. "Here in Thailand, Vietnamese people have lived in harmony with locals for many years, serving as a bridge of friendship between our two countries." However, he also acknowledged a challenge: "Currently, some members of the overseas Vietnamese community in Thailand do not know Vietnamese, so promoting the teaching and learning of Vietnamese is essential." The association, he assured, is committed to supporting this mission.
Teachers are at the heart of this movement. Ms. Hoang Thi Lai, Vice President of the Thai-Vietnamese Association in Nong Khai Province, said, "It is the responsibility of those with Vietnamese heritage to preserve our culture and language, so we can pass it on to future generations." After receiving training in Vietnam, she has organized regular Vietnamese classes for children of the diaspora in Nong Khai, held every weekend.
Academic voices echoed the importance of everyday actions in keeping the language alive. Associate Professor Dr. Duong Tuan Anh, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Linguistics at Hanoi National University of Education, stated, "A language truly lives when it is cherished and developed. Today, we see foreign languages creeping into our speech, and social media making people’s writing more careless. If we don’t pay attention, the beauty of Vietnamese may gradually fade. Let’s start with small things: write correctly, speak clearly, read more, and be creative. Every caption you write, every story you share, every article you post in Vietnamese enriches the language."
The event also featured the presentation of the bilingual book "Bac Ho in Thailand" to attendees, a gesture honoring both President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy and the bonds of friendship between Vietnam and Thailand. The book, first published to mark the 135th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s birth, serves as a tangible symbol of the enduring relationship between the two nations and their people.
As the inaugural Vietnamese Language Honor Day in Northeast Thailand drew to a close, it was clear that the event was more than a celebration—it was a declaration of intent. By honoring their language, the Vietnamese community in Thailand is not only preserving a vital piece of their heritage but also strengthening the ties that bind them to both their homeland and their adopted country. The momentum generated here promises to carry forward, inspiring new generations to cherish, learn, and share the Vietnamese language for years to come.
