On March 2, 2025, the city of Inchon, South Korea, witnessed a significant gathering as the Bắc Giang Association organized its inaugural spring meeting, aimed at reinforcing the friendship between Vietnam and South Korea. Supported by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Bắc Giang Provincial People’s Committee, the event attracted numerous expatriates from the Bắc Giang region, representatives from various Vietnamese and South Korean organizations, and community sponsors.
At the event, Nguyễn Ngọc Hùng, the President of the Bắc Giang Association, expressed the strong emotional ties the expatriates maintain with their homeland, stating, "Hội đồng hương Bắc Giang tại Hàn Quốc không chỉ là nơi kết nối những người con xa xứ, mà còn là mái nhà chung, nơi chúng ta cùng nhau chia sẻ, giúp đỡ nhau trong công việc, cuộc sống." (The Bắc Giang Association in South Korea is not only a place to connect lost children but also a common home where we share and support each other in work and life.)
Established on March 31, 2024, the Bắc Giang Association has quickly become instrumental in providing support and community cohesion for its members. Despite its recent foundation, the association has initiated several impactful activities, including assistance programs for local expats to stabilize their lives abroad, successfully hosting the seventh community football tournament for Vietnamese expatriates, and forming the Bắc Giang FC.
The association has also demonstrated its commitment to aiding compatriots facing adversity. Recently, it organized timely contributions to help 13 families coping with the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, which struck Vietnam in 2024.
Looking forward to 2025, with the motto "For a Strong Community," the Bắc Giang Association aims to deepen community ties, establish volunteer groups, and collaborate with their native province to leverage South Korea’s technical strengths. They also plan to launch initiatives to build charity homes in Bắc Giang and continue their outreach efforts.
Lý Huân, President of the Lý Hoa Sơn lineage and another notable figure at the meeting, praised the efforts of the Vietnamese Embassy and local support, asserting, "Bắc Giang, Bắc Ninh và bà con của các tỉnh thành khác của Việt Nam đều là anh em một nhà, cùng tạo dựng một cộng đồng kết nối và phát triển tình hữu nghị giữa hai nước Việt Nam và Hàn Quốc." (Bắc Giang, Bắc Ninh, and our compatriots from other provinces of Vietnam are all family, working together to build connections and develop friendships between Vietnam and South Korea.)
This vibrant gathering served not only as a festive occasion but also as a poignant reminder of the cherished ties expatriates feel for their homeland. It highlighted the historical and cultural significance of Bắc Giang, famous for its majestic Yên Tử mountain ranges, bountiful Lục Ngạn lychee orchards, and the sweet melodies of the Quan họ folk songs along the Cầu River, evoking nostalgia among expatriates.
The Bắc Giang Association’s meeting is seen as pivotal for the Vietnamese expatriate community residing in South Korea, reinforcing bonds of kinship among attendees and facilitating discussions of collaboration as they build toward a more prosperous community.
Such events are quintessential for nurturing sentiments of unity, encouraging dialogue, and providing platforms for sharing opportunities and collaborations between Vietnamese and South Koreans. They're not just meetings; they're building blocks for lasting friendships and mutual support.
The success of this gathering reflects the dedication of the Bắc Giang expatriates and their commitment to creating connections, upholding cultural pride, and being active participants within the South Korean society, embodying the spirit of cooperation and goodwill between the two nations.
All participants left the meeting motivated and empowered to take on their roles as representatives of their culture and heritage, celebrating not just the festivity of spring but also the strengthening friendship between Vietnam and South Korea.