COVA expands network of overseas Vietnamese language teachers

At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that the 2026 course takes place at a particularly meaningful time, immediately following the Politburo's issuance of Resolution No. 23 on August 2, 2026 regarding overseas Vietnamese affairs in the new context, and the successful conclusion of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference. These major orientations reaffirm the deep concern of the Party and State for the overseas Vietnamese community, while setting higher requirements to enhance the preservation of the Vietnamese language and national cultural identity, and to leverage overseas Vietnamese resources for national development.

In recent years, during foreign visits and community meetings, Party and State leaders have consistently paid great attention to Vietnamese language teaching and learning.

Leaders have directly visited classes, encouraged teachers and students, and presented Vietnamese books, bookcases, and learning materials to communities in Singapore, Thailand, Finland, and Sri Lanka. These practical gestures have supported teaching and learning, helped preserve the mother tongue and national culture, conveyed a message of companionship from the Party and State, and inspired teachers and families to maintain classes and foster a love for Vietnamese among the younger generation.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang noted that amid rapid global changes, the overseas Vietnamese community continues to grow, spread geographically, and diversify in generations, living conditions, and language environments. Consequently, language teaching faces both new opportunities and demands. The rapid advancement of digital technology, online platforms, and artificial intelligence offers new methods to bring the language closer to learners, making study more flexible, engaging, and tailored to specific groups.

However, she stressed that no technology can replace teachers, who serve as motivators, instilling a love for the language and turning each lesson into a journey of cultural and historical discovery. For years across many countries and territories, overseas Vietnamese teachers have voluntarily dedicated time and effort to maintain classes for young generations. From Asia and Europe to the Americas, hundreds of classes are sustained through the dedication of teachers, supported by Vietnamese associations, diplomatic missions, and families.

Alongside encouraging achievements, the Deputy Minister acknowledged ongoing challenges, including a shortage of formally trained teachers, varying learner levels and needs, limited textbooks and materials, uneven facilities, and the difficulty of keeping youth engaged in multicultural environments.

In this context, it is essential to enhance professional capacity, pedagogical skills, and technology integration for overseas teachers.The 2026 course provides an opportunity for educators to update knowledge, exchange practical methods, and build an increasingly cohesive and supportive network of overseas Vietnamese language teachers.

Expressing confidence in the dedication of teachers and the support from domestic agencies, diplomatic missions, and associations, the Deputy Minister wished participants a fruitful training course in their homeland so they may return to their communities and continue inspiring young generations with a love for their mother tongue and homeland.

Representing the trainees, Nguyen Thi Lien, head of the Vietnamese Language Club in Malaysia, expressed her desire to acquire practical knowledge and skills to apply in her classes. Having dedicated years to teaching Vietnamese abroad, she hoped the classes will help young members speak the language fluently, stay deeply connected to their roots, and consciously preserve their Vietnamese identity in a multicultural world.

The 2026 training course gathers 50 overseas teachers from 14 countries and territories, running from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi and nearby localities. The program focuses on pedagogical training using materials compiled by experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) and the Vietnam Education Publishing House, combining professional exchanges with classroom observations at primary schools and field trips to historical and cultural sites.

Resolution 23 redefines Vietnam's approach to overseas Vietnamese

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