Turning Toward Home from Any Corner of the World
Currently pursuing her studies at Ningxia University in China, 22-year-old Mai Ngoc Linh faces a regular routine of classes and personal commitments this September 2. Unable to immerse herself in the festive holiday crowds back in Vietnam, Linh embraces a quieter way to remember her roots.
“Living and studying overseas, I feel a pang of regret missing out on the joy and excitement of this major national holiday,” Linh said. “This year, I plan to write in my journal, reflecting on what Independence Day means to me and expressing my gratitude to our national heroes, especially our beloved Uncle Ho.”
Far from home, Linh reflects on her heritage through her own quiet rituals on Independence Day. Photo: Courtesy of interviewee
What Linh misses most while abroad is the sight of the national flag—the yellow star against a field of red—draping streetscapes back home. Linh recalled that last year, during Vietnam’s 80th National Day milestone, she watched live broadcasts of the national military parade from afar.
“My heart swelled with pride watching those moments unfold,” she said.
Young overseas students find meaningful ways to keep their cultural roots alive. Photo: Provided by Khanh
In South Korea, 25-year-old Nguyen Yen Quyen, a student at Myongji University, finds alternative ways alongside other Vietnamese peers to craft an authentic holiday atmosphere. Together, they stream commemorative festivities and follow updates from Vietnam.
“When you are so far away, small comforts—speaking our mother tongue, reminiscing about home, or sharing photos of Vietnam on September 2—make us feel instantly closer,” Quyen shared. “We often gather at Vietnamese-owned coffee shops or restaurants to talk, share a meal, and bridge the distance. Everyone has their own way of celebrating, but the common thread is a shared pride in our identity.”
Keeping the Name “Vietnam” Close at Heart
For Nguyen Quoc Khanh, a 24-year-old student at Inje University in South Korea, this marks his second Independence Day spent away from home. While September 2 remains an ordinary school day, Khanh carves out time to follow domestic news, call his family, and reflect on his heritage.
Quoc Khanh carries his love for his homeland throughout his academic journey abroad. Photo: Courtesy of interviewee
“What stays with me most is the sea of red flags fluttering along every road,” Khanh noted. “When living in Vietnam, it was such a familiar sight that I took it for granted. But living abroad, seeing those images across my phone screen makes me feel the sacred weight and pride of our homeland much more deeply.”
Khanh added that he often meets up with fellow Vietnamese friends after class to share home-cooked Vietnamese meals, discuss their lives as expatriates, and trade stories about home.
“No matter how far I travel, whenever someone asks ‘Where are you from?’, I feel immense pride answering, ‘I am from Vietnam,’” Khanh said. “Living abroad taught me that your homeland is not merely where you were born; it is a permanent piece of your identity.”
Further east, in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, 26-year-old worker Nguyen Dinh Nhat maintains his usual work shift, as the holiday lands on a regular weekday. Over his five years in Japan, almost every September 2 has unfolded as a standard workday.
“Even so, I always look toward home during major holidays by following social media updates and reading the news to stay connected with the celebrations back home,” Nhat remarked.
Living overseas, Nhat realized that patriotism often surfaces in the simplest acts: speaking Vietnamese, bonding with fellow countrymen abroad, learning more about national history, and proudly declaring his Vietnamese heritage wherever he goes.
(Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper)
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Source: Vietnam Insider