(VOVworld) - Nearly 700 overseas Vietnamese from different countries and territories gathered on Sunday at Ho Chi Minh City's Nha Rong Wharf to attend this year's Homeland Spring program to welcome the Year of the Goat. Speaking at the event, President Truong Tan Sang said that despite numerous difficulties facing Vietnam last year, the Party, State and public maintained political stability, improved local living conditions, promoted Vietnam’s global integration, and raised Vietnam’s prestige in international arenas. Sang said: "From a war-torn country suffering from embargos and severe poverty 40 years ago, Vietnam has grown into a developing country in the middle of industrialization. Vietnam is speeding up its international integration and has earned high prestige in international arenas. Vietnam has expanded its ties with most of the countries in the world, including its former enemies. There is no reason for any overseas Vietnamese to maintain prejudices stemming from the past or obstruct the goal of national unity." 
He asserted that the Party, State, and Vietnamese people always pay attention to and encourage overseas Vietnamese to have a stable life in their host countries and contribute to promoting Vietnam’s culture and national unity. Dinh Thi Kim Dung is a Vietnamese Austrian: "I’m very moved to attend this show, which was very well-organized and has provided a warm welcome home for all overseas Vietnamese like us. For the first time in 34 years living abroad, I had a chance to enjoy Tet in my home country and this has brought me very special feelings."