The Vietnamese language was celebrated in Thailand through the vibrant final round of the Vietnamese-speaking contest “My Vietnam Story”, held on March 31 as part of cultural activities marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam – Thailand diplomatic relations.
The event took place at the Faculty of Humanities of Srinakharinwirot University under the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand, aiming to promote and further spread the Vietnamese language in the Land of Smiles.
In her opening remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Prapaporn Rojsiriuch, Vice President for International Relations and Communications at Srinakharinwirot University, expressed delight at Thai students’ enthusiasm for learning Vietnamese and exploring Vietnam’s rich cultural traditions. She noted that young participants, representing the future, will continue nurturing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries as well as among ASEAN nations.
This year’s final brought together 18 contestants from Srinakharinwirot, Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Naresuan, Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat, Silpakorn, and Uttaradit Rajabhat universities. Through diverse presentations, participants showcased a vivid cultural panorama of Vietnam, featuring emotional musical performances, the distinctive sounds of “dan bau” (monochord), stories about Vietnamese cuisine, travel experiences, and everyday life in Vietnam.
Pachara Lertwijitjarat from Naresuan University shared that he had studied Vietnamese for over two years out of love for Vietnamese culture. Having visited Vietnam three times, he was impressed by the friendliness of local people, recalling how he could easily join a street-side Chinese chess game with locals despite being a foreign visitor.
Meanwhile, Alisara Chueaphet of Thammasat University said the contest offered valuable opportunities for learners to practise the language, expressing hope of using Vietnamese proficiently in the future.
At the competition’s conclusion, two contestants from Thammasat University won the first prize with a lively presentation about their internship experience in Ho Chi Minh City. Two second prizes were awarded to a student of Srinakharinwirot University for a presentation on teachers who opened the world of language and culture to him, and another of Chulalongkorn University for his performance of "Bai ca dat Phuong Nam" (The song of the southern land). Three third prizes and several additional awards were also presented.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung thanked Srinakharinwirot University for its close coordination with the embassy in organising the event, voicing confidence that people-to-people exchanges such as Vietnamese-language contests among Thai students will further strengthen bilateral ties.
He affirmed that the knowledge gained by participants will contribute to mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries./.
