On April 13th, Kien Giang University held a meeting for international students to celebrate the traditional New Year Chol Chnam Thmay of Cambodia and Bunpimay of Laos.

Attending the meeting were Mr. Danh Phuc - Member of Provincial Party Committee, Head of Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of Kien Giang province; Mr. To Van Dan - Vice Chairman of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Kien Giang Province; Mr. Le Thanh Tac - Chairman of Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Kien Giang province; The Party Committee & Board of Directors of Kien Giang University and international students attending the University.

Performance exchange at the meeting.

Distributing congratulatory remarks, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh - Secretary of the Party Committee, Rector of Kien Giang University sent joyful and happy greetings on 2023 traditional Tet Bunpimay of Laos and Chol Chnam Thmay of Cambodia to the students of Laos and Cambodia, and hope that they always make effort to study, strive to complete the training program and become more united in interculture among the ethnics in South East Asian Region.

Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh – Secretary of the Party Committee, Rector of Kien Giang University congratulated the students of Laos and Cambodia

on the national New Year

During 9 years of establishment and development, Kien Giang University has always strived to carry out the mission of training high-quality human resources for the Mekong Delta and Kien Giang province. In the development strategy, the University has implemented human resource training for international students. Currently, Kien Giang University has more than 60 international students from Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia attending, including more than 20 students preparing to graduate. To create conditions for international students to study with peace of mind, Kien Giang University has supported dormitory, monthly living allowance and free tuition.

Mr. Danh Phuc - Provincial Member, Head of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of Kien Giang province emphasized that in the past time, the Party and people of the three countries Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia have always maintained and promoted solidarity, overcoming difficulties and developing together; increasing coordination, including in the field of education.

 “The attendance of international students at Kien Giang University is an effort and cooperation between three countries to create learning conditions, for them to acquire scientific knowledge, effectively apply it to life, develop economic, political, strengthen cooperation, solidarity, growing, friendship "- Mr. Danh Phuc said.

Mr. Danh Phuc - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of Kien Giang Province, presents Tet greetings to representatives of international students

At the meeting, Vun Vandy, a Cambodian student of class 6, majoring in Biotechnology, thanked the University and the leaders of Kien Giang province for always caring and supporting so that international students can celebrate Tet every year. It's like being in your own hometown.

  “This helps us relieve our homesickness and feel proud to represent our country and our culture in Vietnam. Today's meeting is a bridge between Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian students to learn, share and respect the good values of each country; Together, we will discover and experience the unique characteristics of each country's culture and customs,” shared Vun Vandy.

On this occasion, the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Kien Giang province gave 35 gifts to celebrate the traditional Tet Bunpimay of Laos and Chol Chnam Thmay of Cambodia to international students studying at Kien Giang University.

Mr. Le Thanh Tac - Chairman of Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Kien Giang province gave congratulatory gifts to 35 international students at the meeting.

Traditional New Year Bunpimay usually takes place from April 14^th -16^th of the solar calendar every year. During the New Year, Lao people often gather at temples and pagodas to make offerings to Buddha, pray, listen to monks preach, bathe the Buddha and splash water on each other, and wish each other the best for the new year to come again in happiness, luck, prosperity.

Meanwhile, Chol Chnam Thmay is a festival to celebrate the New Year according to the traditional calendar of the Cambodian people, usually held around the beginning of the Tet month of the Khmer Buddhist calendar (around mid-April of the solar calendar), lasting for 3 days, every year. The leap lasts 4 days.

NHƯ NGỌC

Translated by MINH HIẾU