(VOVWORLD) -The Vietnamese community has made outstanding contributions to Czech society since it was recognized by the government as Czech’s 14th ethnic minority group in 2013.
 An art performance by Vietnamese people in Wenceslas Square in the New Town of Prague |
Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Thai Xuan Dung said that over the past 10 years, the Vietnamese community’s role and prestige in the Czech Republic has been increasing. Leaders at all levels of the Czech government always show their respect and appreciation for the Vietnamese people. The Vietnamese community ranked second in a recent survey by the Czech Public Opinion Research Center on the level of sympathy Czech people feel toward the 14 local ethnic minority groups, he said.
The Vietnamese community has preserved and promoted their native culture, land, and people and has actively participated in cultural exchange activities in the Czech Republic, such as the Colorful Planet Festival and the Festival of Ethnic Minorities. The community has joined efforts by Czech authorities to fight COVID-19, helped local victims of natural disasters, and contributed to socio-economic development.
Pham Cong Tu, Chairman of the Vietnamese-Czech Association, said that the Vietnamese community has overcome extremely difficult times, and is praised by the Czech Government for its contributions to the host country.
"We are doing a good job of integrating while keeping our identity. This is a challenge for the younger generation who, I believe, need support from older generations, especially in education and discipline. We must do our best to move forward," he added.
There are now approximately 96,000 Vietnamese people living in the Czech Republic.