Vietnam's Embassy Lights Up Prey Veng with a Wave of Generosity

The Embassy of Vietnam in Cambodia illuminated Prey Veng province last Saturday with a wave of generosity. Organized just before the Khmer New Year festivities, this charitable mission provided free medical consultations, medicines, and gift packages to 500 disadvantaged residents. A concrete gesture that strengthens the fraternal ties between the two neighboring nations.

A Joint Initiative Serving Communities

In Peam Ro district, the event took place at the Khmer-Vietnamese Friendship Primary School in Prek Khsai commune. Led by the Embassy of Vietnam, Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital, and the Khmer-Vietnamese Association (KVA), this operation aimed to ease the financial burden on families of Vietnamese origin and local Cambodians.

Counselor Le Minh Ngoc, on behalf of the embassy, highlighted the legacy of solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

“These medical examination and treatment activities embody the fruits of our health cooperation,” he declared. “It’s a meaningful annual tradition that expresses compassion and improves the health of the population.”

According to official reports from the embassy and Cho Ray Hospital, this type of initiative fits into a bilateral partnership strengthened for over a decade.

Proximity Care Thanks to a Dedicated Team

From dawn, residents flocked to the site. A team of 26 doctors and caregivers from Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital, equipped with portable gear, conducted diabetes screenings, blood pressure measurements, and ultrasounds. Dr. Ton Thanh Tra, director of the facility, recalls that these community missions have been radiating across Cambodia for over 10 years.

“Our goal? To provide care for a better life, without distinction of Vietnamese or Cambodian origin,” he affirms.

Among the 500 beneficiaries—half of Vietnamese origin, half Cambodians—each received a package containing 5 kg of rice and 20,000 riels (about $5). For severe cases requiring surgery or prolonged follow-up, the hospital offers free treatment at its Phnom Penh facilities.

Vital Support for a Forgotten Community

Nguyen Van Duong, president of the Prey Veng branch of the KVA, sheds light on the daily challenges faced by these communities. Many Vietnamese in the province live off artisanal fishing or day labor, hindered by administrative and financial obstacles to accessing care.

“They too often neglect their health and have a crying need for regular support,” he explains. “Organizing this before Khmer New Year makes the initiative even more poignant.”

Prey Veng, a province bordering Vietnam, hosts one of the largest Vietnamese populations in Cambodia—about 10,000 people according to estimates from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023 data).

This humanitarian action perfectly illustrates the motto of cooperation between the two countries: unite to heal and prosper. It inspires and also calls for greater regional solidarity.