The "A Day with Soldiers" program for Vietnamese students was held at Vietnam House in Washington, D.C. in early December to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All-People's Defense Festival.

One of the activities of the "A Day with Soliders" program. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

This was the first time such an event was held in the US on a major national holiday, and it attracted a large number of young people from Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York, and Houston through online participation.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung praised the initiative of the Embassy and the Defense Attaché Office in the US. He expressed his hope that this program will help young people better understand the nation's history and the traditions of the Vietnamese military, thereby fostering patriotism and national pride as they live, study, and work abroad.

A highlight of the program was the youth's interaction with Vietnamese peacekeepers currently serving at the United Nations in New York. The heartfelt stories these soldiers shared, as well as their answers to questions about military life and training, left a strong impression on the participating youth.

The organizers seek the program to deepen the understanding of Vietnam's heroic military history among the youth, especially those studying and living abroad, and to strengthen their sense of national pride.

Following the educational discussions and interactions, the participants were also given the opportunity to experience basic military training and conduct exercises led by officers from the Vietnam National Defense Attaché Office.