The Association’s activities have helped “nurture seeds of friendship,” strengthening the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Meaningful trip
Early morning on January 4, in front of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, a group of Cambodian students were delighted to see Lieutenant General Pham Ngoc Khoa, head of the Association, and other Association members. According to the plan, the Association took the students on a visit to the Trang An Ecotourism Complex in Ninh Binh province.
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Gen. Khoa offers incense at the Monument to the Heroic Martyrs of Army Corps 12 at the Corps’ Headquarters in Trung Son ward, Ninh Binh province. |
Visiting the world cultural and natural heritage site of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex for the first time, En Sreymom, from Takeo (Cambodia), a second-year student of the Faculty of Civil and Industrial Construction at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, was visibly excited. En Sreymom shared, “I came to Vietnam in 2023, but this is my first time visiting Trang An. Taking a boat through the caves, admiring the landscapes, and enjoying Ninh Binh specialties was amazing. I sincerely thank the Association for creating such a meaningful trip for us.”
Together with enjoying the fresh winter morning air on the waterways of Trang An, the Cambodian students also joined a “return-to-the-roots” trip to the Headquarters and Museum of Army Corps 12. There, they learned about the history of Army Corps 12, the merger of Army Corps 1 and 2, which had glorious traditions, marking the growth and development of the Vietnam People’s Army.
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Deputy Commander of Army Corps 12 Major General Le Van Phan receives leaders of the Association and Cambodian students. |
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The hosts and guests in a group photo |
Notably, volunteer soldiers of Army Corps 2 provided wholehearted and selfless assistance to the Cambodian people in fighting the Pol Pot regime, and joining the Cambodian people in achieving the victory on January 7, 1979, leading to the fall of the Pol Pot genocidal regime.
Focusing on a black and white photo, the Cambodian students were moved as Gen. Khoa introduced images of Army Corps 2 volunteer soldiers helping Cambodia consolidate its armed forces in 1978.
Student Touch Hok stood still when looking at a photo captioned “Army Corps 2 marching to liberate Kampot province, Cambodia, 1978.” Kampot is his hometown.
The Cambodian students expressed deep gratitude to Vietnamese heroes and martyrs who fought for Cambodia’s independence and freedom, for the shared destiny and solidarity of the two nations.
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The delegation visits the Army Corps 12 Museum. |
Fostering sustainable and growing Vietnam - Cambodia friendship
Gen. Khoa said that Army Corps 2 (Huong Giang Corps), established on May 17, 1974, was the first regular army corps formed on the Southern battlefield. It took part in many major campaigns, including the Nong Son - Thuong Duc Campaign, the liberation of Hue and Da Nang, and the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign in 1975. In all circumstances, it successfully fulfilled all assignments, including the international mission of helping the Cambodian people escape genocide.
According to Gen. Khoa, the number of former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers of Army Corps 2 who participated in the liberation of Cambodia was more than 10,000. Since its inception in 2015, the Association has consistently focused on communication and traditional education to foster pride among volunteer soldiers, helping members gain a deeper understanding of the good-neighborly, comprehensive and enduring cooperative relationship between the two countries.
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Leaders of the Association and Cambodian students visit Trang An Ecotourism Complex. |
Through these efforts, people of both countries and former volunteer soldiers have greater awareness of the long-standing tradition of solidarity and mutual assistance across generations, sharing responsibility for further nurturing Vietnam - Cambodia friendship.
The Association has actively responded to the “Nurturing Friendship” initiative by sponsoring Cambodian post-graduates and students studying in Vietnam.
Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Head of the Association, said by 2023, the Association had sponsored 10 students studying at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering and Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Association members regularly encouraged their studies, visited them when ill, and provided material and spiritual support. On Vietnamese and Cambodian Tet holidays and festivals, the Association organized gift-giving and study trips. To date, these students have graduated and returned to Cambodia for work. Since 2024, the Association has continued to sponsor eight students at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. In 2026, it plans to present gifts and organize study tours so the students can witness Vietnam’s development firsthand.
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Cambodian students enjoy rowing boat, admiring the landscapes of Trang An. |
“The ‘Nurturing Friendship’ is a good initiative, contributing to deepening the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia, in line with the principle of good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability. With a spirit of friendship and building bilateral relations, the Association will do its utmost to foster a sustainable and growing Vietnam - Cambodia friendship,” Gen. Khoa affirmed.
Translated by Mai Huong