Vietnam Education Publishing House tirelessly brings Vietnamese language to overseas communities

The Vietnam Education Publishing House (VEPH) has, for many years, tirelessly worked to bring the Vietnamese language to overseas Vietnamese communities, as it is not just a tool for communication but also the "soul" of Vietnamese culture and a vital bond connecting Vietnamese communities across the globe.

These enduring efforts affirm VEPH’s role as a trusted companion of the Vietnamese diaspora worldwide.

Vietnamese is both a means of communication and a cultural spirit that unites Vietnamese people at home and abroad. Being aware of this value, the government issued Decision No. 930/QĐ-TTg in 2022, designating September 8 as the annual Day to Honor the Vietnamese Language in Overseas Vietnamese Communities.

This day is more than a celebration - it’s an opportunity for every overseas Vietnamese to further understand the priceless value of their mother tongue, a language that has shaped the identity, culture, and unity of the Vietnamese people over thousands of years.

As a leading publisher in the field of education, VEPH has long contributed to promoting the Vietnamese language abroad through various textbooks designed for overseas learners, such as Que Viet (Vietnamese Homeland), Tieng Viet Vui (Fun Vietnamese), and more.

One standout publication is the Chao Tieng Viet (Hello Vietnamese) series by Dr. Nguyen Thuy Anh. Tailored for children aged 6 to 15 living abroad, the series supports teaching and learning Vietnamese based on competency levels outlined in the Ministry of Education and Training’s 2018 Vietnamese Language Program for Overseas Vietnamese.

Upon publication, the collection was warmly welcomed in many parts of the world and was honored with the A Prize at the 6th National Book Awards in 2023.

In addition, VEPH collaborated with VTV4 – the Foreign Affairs Television Channel of Vietnam Television to produce a TV program teaching Vietnamese to children overseas. Since April 2023, the program has been regularly broadcast on VTV4 and various digital platforms, reaching Vietnamese communities globally.

Looking ahead, starting in April 2025, VEPH and Vietnam Television Channel 4 (VTV4) launched a new program titled “Tieng Viet Dieu Ky” (The Magical Vietnamese Language).

This program combines folktale storytelling with animated characters to teach Vietnamese through the rich world of folk literature, nurturing children's love for their homeland and cultural tradition.

While the demand to learn Vietnamese among overseas Vietnamese remains high, geographic and infrastructure limitations have made access to learning materials difficult.

To address this, VEPH, in collaboration with the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV), initiated the “Vietnamese Book Cabinet” project, aimed at placing curated Vietnamese book collections in communities with Vietnamese populations. These collections serve new learners, teachers, and researchers of the Vietnamese language.

After pilot implementation, the model has been refined and expanded. Each “book cabinet” includes textbooks, supplementary materials, children’s books, folk literature, and bilingual books, tailored to the needs of each location.

These book cabinets are typically placed in Vietnamese embassies and consulates, cultural friendship centers, Vietnamese language classes, or community spaces, allowing easy access for the overseas Vietnamese.

Since its launch, the initiative has received overwhelmingly positive feedback. To date, the Vietnamese Book Cabinet has expanded to 10 countries and territories with 12 cabinets, including locations such as Fukuoka (Japan), Budapest (Hungary), Taiwan (China), Paris & New Caledonia (France), Prague & Brno (Czech Republic), Melbourne (Australia), Thailand, Laos, Belarus, and Sweden.

This initiative was awarded second prize at the 10th National External Information Service Awards in 2024, co-organized by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, the Steering Committee for External Information Work, Vietnam Television, and other agencies.

Alongside traditional publishing, VEPH is also accelerating the digitization of its products. On the website https://taphuan.nxbgd.vn, the publisher provides free electronic versions of textbooks from Grade 1 to Grade 12, based on the “Connecting Knowledge with Life” and “Creative Horizons” series under the 2018 National Curriculum, including Vietnamese language textbooks and teacher guides.

This digital access significantly supports overseas Vietnamese parents and educators in teaching their children Vietnamese from afar.

Teachers play a crucial role in successful language education. Aware of this, VEPH has been actively working with SCOV to support Vietnamese language teachers worldwide.

In late 2024, VEPH and SCOV co-hosted seminars on methods of teaching Vietnamese to children abroad, techniques for helping students visualize characters in folk literature, and game-based learning methods.

In June 2025, SCOV and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen (Thailand) partnered with VEPH to organize an advanced training course for nearly 80 Vietnamese language teachers from northeastern Thailand. The course received high praise for both its content and practicality.

These initiatives not only enhance teaching skills and inspire educators but also lay a solid foundation for the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Vietnamese language education in overseas communities.

In 2025, VEPH actively participated in several flagship events marking the Day to Honor the Vietnamese Language, organized by SCOV, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Education, such as supporting the “Spring in the Homeland” event; launching the Vietnamese Language Ambassador Contest; co-hosting book launches for “Uncle Ho is Ho Chi Minh” and “Uncle Ho in Thailand” for the Vietnamese community in Thailand; and providing books and materials during overseas visits of Party and State leaders and government delegations.

Continuing the Mission: Preserving and promoting Vietnamese language and culture

It is clear that the collaborative efforts between VEPH and SCOV are increasingly impactful and aligned with the rising demand for Vietnamese language education among overseas communities.

These include distributing free publications, training teachers, compiling customized materials, producing multi-language media, and hosting both in-person and online community events.

The results reflect the tireless commitment of both VEPH and SCOV - a shared desire to preserve Vietnamese cultural identity, with language at its heart. The Vietnamese language only truly thrives when it is both cherished as a cultural heritage and used daily by the overseas Vietnamese community.

As a national publishing house, VEPH recognizes its social responsibility in spreading Vietnamese knowledge and culture to all Vietnamese people, wherever they may be.

In the time ahead, it will continue to expand the Vietnamese Book Cabinet initiative in more countries and regions, using a hybrid physical and digital model; improve the quality and reach of teacher training programs; enhance its digital learning ecosystem, including free e-textbooks, interactive content, and educational TV programs; and strengthen multi-language communication efforts and global community connections.

VEPH will also remain a committed partner in key events for the Day to Honor the Vietnamese Language and other cultural diplomacy programs, solidifying its role as a reliable, community-oriented publisher.

Maintaining and promoting the Vietnamese language among overseas communities is synonymous with preserving the "soul" of the nation, nurturing love for the homeland and Vietnamese cultural identity.

VEPH is committed to contributing its part in ensuring that this sacred language continues to live in the hearts of every Vietnamese person - wherever they are in the world.