The 7th edition of the festival welcomed 196 children and 37 officials from the three countries. The delegates came from the two provinces of Svay Rieng and Prey Veng (Cambodia), the capital Vientiane, and the two provinces of Champasak and Attapeu (Laos).

In addition to the children in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnamese children's representatives also include children from several provinces bordering the two neighboring countries, including Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Long An, Kien Giang and Dong Thap.

Let's cultivate friendship

Student Huynh Tran Bao Anh (grade 8, Lam Son Secondary School, District 6, Ho Chi Minh City) said he was excited to attend the festival. This is an opportunity for young delegates to understand more about the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia.

"We come to the festival with the most active participation spirit. Each person will be a friendship ambassador, together nurturing the special traditional bond of the three neighboring countries" - Bao Anh said.

Sharing at the opening ceremony, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union Ngo Minh Hai said that the cooperative relationship and friendly exchange between youth in general and children in particular are increasingly deepening, bringing practical benefits to the young generation and people of the three countries. Thanks to that, they contribute to fostering and developing the traditional friendship between the three peoples of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia more firmly.

Mr. Hai believes that the activities and experiences within the framework of the festival help children from the three countries make friends and understand each other. At the same time, it contributes to educating young people more thoroughly about the special traditional friendship between Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia.

Therefore, each delegate should stay healthy and participate fully in all activities to have a meaningful, safe, memorable and fun festival in Ho Chi Minh City.

"We affirm the determination, responsibility and role of the young generation in preserving and further strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the Party, State and people of the three countries," said Mr. Hai.

Young Ambassador of Friendship

Nguyen Nhi Mai Anh said that being able to attend the festival fulfilled a dream she had cherished for three years, ever since she started participating in the Team's activities. Thinking about the opportunity to practice English outside of the school environment made Mai Anh even more excited about the festival.

"I set a goal for myself to participate in this festival. This is not only an opportunity to meet and connect with friends, but also a chance to learn about Lao and Cambodian languages ​​to communicate more comfortably and closely" - Mai Anh boasted.

Mai Anh will officially be a 10th grader after this summer. This is the last time she will wear the red scarf during the special reunion at the festival. She said she not only wants to use this festival to connect Vietnamese children with children from the two neighboring countries, but also to play a role in connecting children from Laos and Cambodia. That is also the spirit of solidarity between children from the three countries.

Meanwhile, Kouet Bunne - a Cambodian children's delegate - said that although he had just arrived at the festival, he had already gained a lot of experience and knowledge about culture and history that the children's delegates shared with each other. Living in Svay Rieng province bordering Vietnam, Bunne said that during holidays and Tet in Vietnam, Cambodian people often visit and visit pagodas in Tay Ninh.

These simple things make you feel more clearly the closeness and connection between the people of the two countries. Bunne wants to introduce to Vietnamese and Lao friends the culture, dances and personalities of the people as well as the children of Cambodia.

"I've heard a lot about Vietnam helping Cambodia and the long-standing friendship between the two countries. I hope to become a child ambassador to help strengthen that friendship, starting with a festival like this," Bunne said.