Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Vietnam is creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese living abroad to come back home and celebrate the country’s traditional lunar New Year, the Vietnam Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (COV) said.

The Committee said it will collaborate with the aviation, tourism, and customs departments to fulfill administrative procedures as quickly as possible to facilitate the return of expatriate Vietnamese.

The government will ensure that overseas Vietnamese enjoy a single-price policy, meaning that they will pay the same price as locals for all services, according to the committee.

The COV will host a meeting with about 500 overseas Vietnamese in early February, 2005, said high-ranking COV official Pham Tien Van.

At the meeting, government leaders will introduce the expatriates to the country’s reforms and achievements of 2004 and its plans for 2005, Mr. Van said.

Meet with party leaders

Also, the committee will organize a trip for a delegation of “typical” overseas Vietnamese, including those who have made great contributions to the country’s development, during the New Year.

The delegation will visit government and party leaders, and take part in a meeting of Vietnam Television and the Overseas Vietnamese Club to be broadcast live.

The committee will also host a meeting with expatriates on the evening of January 30, 2005 at the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City. The event will include local and overseas business trade promotion activities, art performances, and cultural exchanges.

Currently, about 2.7 million overseas Vietnamese are living in 90 foreign countries. The number of expatriates returning home to visit relatives or do business has risen sharply in the past few years, especially during the lunar New Year.

This year, the number of overseas Vietnamese visiting the homeland is estimated at 400,000. From late December 2004 to February 16, 2005 Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, will add nine flights to international routes and 120 domestic flights to satisfy increased travel demands.

Vietnam Airlines will also offer discounts to senior citizens and those who buy tickets early.

Source: Vietnam News Agency