Hanoi (VNA) – More than 80 young overseas Vietnamese from 24 countries and territories will visit their homeland for a summer camp from July 18-August 2.

Director of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) Nguyen Thanh Son told a press briefing in Hanoi on July 10 that the summer camp “Journey to homeland’s heritage sites” aims to improve the youth’s understanding about the Vietnamese history and tradition.

Son said during the summer camp, first launched in Vietnam in 2004, the young overseas Vietnamese will visit well-known sites around the country including Ha Long Bay, the Royal Palace and Citadel in Hue , as well as Hoi An ancient town and the Cu Chi tunnels outside of Ho Chi Minh City .

On their journey across Vietnam , the youth will also call on and present gifts to poor students who have made outstanding performances in school as well as heroic Vietnamese mothers who lost their children during battles against foreign invaders.

They will attend an online exchange programme called “Immortal Flowers” in central Ha Tinh province to mark the day when 10 girls died at the Dong Loc, the most important junction on the North-South supply line during the American War, 40 years ago.

Other activities they will join include another online programme called “Singing about my Motherland” in central Quang Nam province and visit the Truong Son M artyrs' C emetery in central Quang Tri province on the Fallen Combatants’ Day (July 27).

According to Son, following the annual summer camp, a second meeting of young Vietnamese people and students who are living in the country and in European countries will take place in Moscow from August 9-13.

As part of the event, around 200 participants will discuss the Party’s and the State’s policies toward overseas Vietnamese and activities to strengthen the relationship between Vietnamese youth in and outside the country.

The participants will also attend a number of cultural exchange programmes, art performances and sports events and take sightseeing tours in Moscow .

The first meeting between young Vietnamese in and outside the country took place in the Czech Republic in 2007, drawing participation of 200 people.

Statistics released by the COVA showed that there are 3 million Vietnamese people living in 90 countries and territories.