Khmer New Year Chol Chnam Thmay. Illustration photo

In the letter, the Prime Minister wrote:

"On the occasion of the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year, I would like to send my warmest and most sincere feelings and best wishes to my Khmer compatriots, comrades and monks.

Among the 54 "lotus petals" converging to form a brilliant, fragrant "Vietnamese lotus", the "lotus petals of more than 1.3 million Khmer people" are always an inseparable part of the great national unity bloc, making an important contribution to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland led by the Communist Party of Vietnam. The culture of the Khmer people, including customs, traditional festivals... has unique values, rich in identity, enriching the colorful cultural picture of the Vietnamese people. The Khmer people always believe in the leadership of the Party and State, promote patriotism, fine traditions, join hands and unite with other ethnic groups in the country, actively contributing to the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

The Party and State always identify ethnic and religious work as a fundamental, long-term, and urgent strategic issue; a task of the entire Party, people, army, and political system, and must always be given attention, closely led, and directed according to a consistent policy of "all ethnic groups being equal, united, respectful, and helping each other to develop together".

Under the leadership of the Party, the drastic participation of the entire political system and the people of the whole country in general and the ethnic minority and mountainous areas in particular, we are happy to witness the comprehensive changes and encouraging developments of the Khmer ethnic community in recent times. The lives of the Khmer ethnic people have been increasingly improved and enhanced; the national cultural identity has been preserved and promoted; political security and social order and safety have been maintained and stabilized; the great national unity bloc has continued to be consolidated and strengthened.

In 2025, Khmer people will celebrate the traditional New Year in a more special atmosphere when the whole country is striving to compete and achieve achievements to celebrate major holidays such as: The 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam...

2025 is also a year of drastic implementation of the innovation revolution, streamlining the political system's apparatus, operating effectively and efficiently, and reorganizing administrative units at all levels. The year marks the first time the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions was established, continuing to affirm the Party and State's attention to ethnic and religious affairs.

The whole country is seething with enthusiasm, efforts, unity and determination to successfully implement the socio-economic development goals and tasks, towards the 14th Party Congress with new confidence, new spirit and new victories to create a foundation to bring the country into an era of national growth, development and prosperity.

With that meaning, I propose that all levels, sectors and localities be more determined and make more efforts to continue to concretize the Party and State's guidelines and policies through practical and effective tasks and works; strengthen information and propaganda work and synchronously deploy strategies, programs, projects and ethnic and religious policies, ensuring uninterrupted, timely and effective responses to the people's legitimate rights and interests.

Continue to prioritize resources for comprehensive development, improve the material and spiritual life of the Khmer people; pay special attention to the fields of health, education, and culture; preserve and promote the cultural identity of the Khmer people associated with tourism development.

Strengthening the role of prestigious people, religious dignitaries, intellectuals, and typical advanced examples among the Khmer people; arousing the will of self-reliance, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-improvement, and national pride among the Khmer people, contributing to creating the combined strength of the great national unity bloc in the new era. Preparing well the conditions for the Khmer people to celebrate the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay New Year 2025 in solidarity, joy, health, safety, and economy, in accordance with the civilized lifestyle, customs, habits, traditions, and fine culture of the nation.

Although there are still many difficulties and challenges, when the Party's will is in harmony with the people's will, I believe that the Khmer people, comrades and monks will continue to promote good cultural features, patriotic traditions, solidarity, strive to compete, work and produce, contributing to building a Vietnam of "rich people, strong country, democracy, fairness and civilization".

Once again, I wish my fellow countrymen, comrades and monks of the Khmer ethnic group a new year with good health, happiness, peace and many new victories."