Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – More than 100 overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in the UK gathered at a get-together held by the Vietnamese Embassy on January 28 on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long expressed his delight at the solidarity and development of the Vietnamese community in the UK. He thanked them for their contributions to the host country as well as to the homeland, especially acting as a bridge to promote the image of the land and people of Vietnam in the host country.

He reviewed the developments in Vietnam-UK relations, especially in 2023 when the two countries celebrated 50 years of the diplomatic ties. To commemorate this important event, the Vietnamese Embassy organised the Vietnam-UK Friendship Year 2023 programme with more than 50 political, trade, investment, cultural, educational and art events across the UK. He partially attributed the success of the programme to the contribution of the Vietnamese community in the UK, expressing his wish that the community continues to develop strongly, serving as a solid foundation to foster Vietnam-UK relations.

Taking place in a warm atmosphere, the event is an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to recall good customs and practices of the Lunar New Year and enjoy traditional dishes such as banh chung (square sticky rice cake) gio lua (lean pork paste) and nem ran (fried spring rolls). They are also treated to art performances by Vietnamese students in the UK.

Earlier on January 27, the Vietnamese student society at the University of Oxford (VOX) organised the Tet celebration with the participation of the university's professors and staff, along with Vietnamese students who are studying and doing research in Oxford city and their family.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania organised a Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) programme for the Vietnamese community in the country and other East African countries on January 27.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania Nguyen Nam Tien, who is also in charge of Burundi, Comoros, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Somalia, briefed participants on Vietnam's socio-economic achievements last year.

The Ambassador affirmed that successes of Vietnamese people in Tanzania and other countries in East Africa is one of the important factors contributing to strengthening cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Tanzania and East Africa.

Participants at the event had a chance to enjoꦫy art performances and traditional dishes of Vietnam./.