Truong Van Long is Vietnamese in name only. He was born in Cambodia and has lived there for decades, including many years in a floating house on the Tonle Sap lake where he still lives. But his days on the water are numbered. Citing concerns over pollution and overfishing last year, Cambodian authorities have moved hundreds of ethnic Vietnamese families in the central province of Kampong Chhnang to land. More than 1,000 ethnic Vietnamese families, including Truong Van Long’s, who are still on the water will be relocated to land in the coming months, provincial authorities have said. "Why move us from the water? We are not in anyone’s way, and there is nowhere else for us to go," said Troung Van Long, seated on the floor of his blue-colored houseboat. "The officials say we are polluting the water, but it is industries and city people who do that. We just want to make a living from fishing - we will starve if we are moved," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ethnic … [Read more...] about No room on water, no home on land for Cambodia’s ethnic Vietnamese
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Cambodia offers ethnic Vietnamese short-term residency in migrant crackdown reprieve
Cambodian officials have promised to grant two-year residency cards to roughly 70,000 ethnic Vietnamese currently facing deportation to Vietnam where they have no legal status either. Officials said on Monday that they plan to issue the short-term documents to people of Vietnamese origin who can prove they arrived in Cambodia before 2012. There will be an application process but most people are likely to pass, officials said, as cited by the Phnom Penh Post. A drive to revoke their Cambodian documents, which were deemed “improperly issued”, has rendered many of them stateless, as they have no Vietnamese citizenship either. Nouv Leakhena, deputy head of the Immigration Department at Cambodia’s Interior Ministry, said the government recognized that many ethnic Vietnamese have lived in Cambodia for up to 30 years, some since before the Khmer Rouge regime. “Immigration officials cannot be nationalistic,” he said, as cited in the report. People of … [Read more...] about Cambodia offers ethnic Vietnamese short-term residency in migrant crackdown reprieve
Requiem for Vietnamese martyrs in Laos
Participants at the requiem (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – A requiem was held in Vientiane on December 9 for Vietnamese martyrs who laid down their lives in Laos, with the participation of high-ranking officials of the host country, and representatives of various Vietnamese authorities and community in Laos. The function was held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the traditional day of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts in Laos. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Ba Hung said the requiem is to express deep gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives during the two resistance wars for national independence and freedom. The countries and peoples of Vietnam and Laos forever bear in their mind the great devotion by the martyrs, the diplomat stressed. Representatives of the former soldiers also said the noble sacrifices by their comrades in arms will live eternally in the hearts of the peoples, and recalled their memorable days in Laos./. VNA … [Read more...] about Requiem for Vietnamese martyrs in Laos
SEA Games: Football gold in sight, Vietnam to go all out
Speaking to the press after Vietnam’s untroubled 4-0 victory over Cambodia in the semifinal Saturday, Park praised his players for showing "tactical discipline." The victory helped the national men’s football team advance to the SEA Games final after 10 years. "I want to thank all the players. Today’s match was tough, but they overcame it with strong spirit and tactical discipline. "We will meet Indonesia again, with the dream of winning the gold medal after 60 years. My players and I understand this and we will try our best to achieve Vietnam’s dream," Park said. "Indonesia has a very balanced squad, maybe the the most balanced in the SEA Games, this time. We are the same level. Indonesia deserve to be in the final," Park said. But, he pointed out Vietnam beat Indonesia in the U23 Asian qualifiers, the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, then the SEA Games group stage. "And we want to win the next game." Cambodian coach Felix Dalmas said he was not too … [Read more...] about SEA Games: Football gold in sight, Vietnam to go all out
Symposium talks Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos
At the event (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – An international symposium was held in Vientiane on December 9 to discuss the history and development orientations of Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos. The event was co-organised by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), the Lao National Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Social Sciences, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute for Religious Studies. In his speech, Vice President and Secretary General of the VBS’s Executive Council Venerable Thich Duc Thien said the event aims to look into the formation and development of Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos, its contributions to the Vietnamese people living in Laos as well as the development of the host country, thus strengthening the bilateral special friendship. Vice President of the VBS’s Executive Council Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem said the event affords a chance to help overseas Vietnamese in Laos stabilise their lives and strengthen … [Read more...] about Symposium talks Vietnamese Buddhism in Laos