VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Summer Camp 2012 officially opened at the Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Minorities in Hanoi on July 12.

This year's camp, organized by the National Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OVs), will take place in the northern, central, and southern regions of the country.

Attending the opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son; Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho Anh Tuan; Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee Phan Van Mai; and 180 young OVs from 25 countries and territories around the world.

Speaking at the ceremony, Son emphasized that the Vietnamese Party and State attaches great importance to the policy of national unity, and aims to create favourable conditions for OVs to uphold their role as one of the nation's most valuable resources.

Bao Ngoc, an OV from China said she is pleased to participate in the event because it is a good chance for young OVs to meet each other and exchange experiences, in addition to visiting historical relics and sites.

Hoang Kim Quan from Ukraine noted that he will share images of Vietnam and his feelings about the fatherland with his friends and relatives in Ukraine.

During the camp, young OVs will take part in many activities including visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, holding exchanges with ethnic minority groups in Hanoi, offering incense in commemoration of the 10 young female volunteer soldiers in Ha Tinh and attending the 150th anniversary of the Con Dao (Poulo Condor) Prison.

They will also commemorate the 65th anniversary of War Invalids’ and Martyrs’ Day (July 27), organize exchanges with youth delegations in Hue and Da Lat, and go sightseeing in Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Lat and Nha Trang.

The Vietnam Summer Camp 2012 will be wrapped up in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on July 30.

VietNamNet/VOV online