Preserving and Disseminating Vietnamese Culture in Germany, Canada, and Mozambique

Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong talks with Vietnamese expatriates in Canada about the meaning of worshiping Hung Vuong. Photo: Trung Dung, Ha Linh, Viet Tuan/VNA

On the evening of April 21, the Vietnamese Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique, joined forces with the local Vietnamese community to organize a special event to commemorate the historical Southern Liberation Day (April 30th), International Labor Day (May 1st), and the death anniversary of the legendary Hung Kings (March 10th). This was an excellent opportunity to commemorate and honor these momentous occasions. Vietnam News Agency reported that the event was a great success, with the attendees feeling a strong sense of pride and patriotism. Participants were treated to traditional Vietnamese cuisine and music, while also enjoying a variety of cultural and entertainment activities. The event was a fitting tribute to the courage and dedication of the Vietnamese people in their fight for independence and freedom.

Attending the ceremony were a large contingent of people from the local Vietnamese community, the Board of Directors, officers, and employees of Movitel Company (Viettel Group), esteemed business leaders, esteemed medical and educational professionals, and Vietnamese students studying in Mozambique, as well as local friends.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Canada on April 23rd held a special ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of the Hung Kings – the legendary founders of the Vietnamese nation – and to help preserve the nation’s cultural identity, particularly among the younger generations. The event was intended to raise awareness amongst the Vietnamese community of their national tradition.

More than 100 overseas Vietnamese from the eastern provinces of Canada attended the event in person, while representatives of the Canada-Vietnam Association’s chapters from all across the country connected online.

The Vietnamese Ambassador, Pham Cao Phong, remarked that the distinct custom of venerating the Hung Kings is a way to express gratitude to one’s predecessors and to illustrate the nation’s solidarity, determination, and strength, which has enabled them to overcome the various obstacles they have faced and accomplish the remarkable accomplishments they have today.

Julie Nguyen, a member of the Canada-Vietnam Association’s chapter in Toronto, highlighted the event as an opportunity for Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) to come together and form a stronger, more unified community. By strengthening their solidarity, the OVs can create a more connected and supportive network.

In recent times, the embassy has served as an essential bridge to connect the Vietnamese communities in Canada, remarked Phong. By facilitating communication and providing the necessary resources, the embassy has been a vital resource in fostering the development of the Vietnamese communities in Canada.

He reiterated that, with the assistance of the Embassy, Vietnamese-Canadian scientists will be able to make even more meaningful contributions to the development of their homeland. In addition, there will be a number of exchange and support initiatives between Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Canada and the people in the homeland in the foreseeable future.

A project to teach the Vietnamese language is set to be re-initiated to educate Vietnamese expats in the North American nation about their cultural heritage, as cited from VNA.

At the ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings in Germany. Photo: Pham Quynh Nga

The same day, the Vinh Phu Association of compatriots in Leipzig, Sachsen, organized an event with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy and many Vietnamese associations and organizations in Germany. The event was an immense success, drawing a large crowd and receiving positive feedback from all those involved.

Ambassador Vu Quang Minh highlighted the impressive progress of Vietnam-Germany relations, praising the invaluable contributions of the Vietnamese community in Germany to furthering the collaboration between the two countries.

He urged Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in the country to unite and endeavor to make significant contributions to the advancement of their homeland.

Dr. Gabriele Goldfuß, the esteemed Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs in Leipzig, has applauded the invaluable contributions of the Vietnamese community to the progress and prosperity of the German city.

She seized this opportunity to express her ardent wish for the friendship between the twin cities of Leipzig, Germany and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to blossom ever more strongly, along with the advancement of the two countries.

At the ceremony to commemorate the death anniversary of Hung Kings in Germany. (Photo:

The annual Hung Kings’ Temple Festival, organized by overseas Vietnamese, used to be sporadic and disorganized, garnering little attention from members of the community and international partners. As a result, the event had limited appeal and impact. However, with a concerted effort to centralize and professionalize the event, it can become a prominent celebration that all can enjoy. With the right planning and coordination, the Hung Kings’ Temple Festival can become a vibrant and engaging experience for everyone.

On the occasion of the Hung Kings Temple Festival, which falls on April 29 this year (the 10th day of the third lunar month), Vietnamese communities, organizations, and agencies from all around the world will come together to celebrate the annual “Vietnam Ancestral Global Day” (VAGD). This event, which began in 2015, has been created to help protect and preserve the intangible heritage of Vietnamese culture, while also reinforcing national unity by bringing together overseas Vietnamese and international friends in various activities.