According to Le Thuy Hien, lecturer at the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” the institution is one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious in teaching and research on languages and cultures. It currently offers courses in over 40 languages. Vietnamese was first introduced as a language laboratory in 2018–2019, attracting strong student interest, and by 2023-2024 became part of the bachelor’s program in Asian and African Languages and Cultures. The university also organizes seminars, cultural exchanges, and maintains partnerships with Vietnamese institutions such as Hanoi University and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.
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Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang presents Vietnamese-language books to representatives from the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” the University of Turin, and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. |
Professor Pietro Masina from the University of Naples “L’Orientale” noted that some Italian students, after completing Vietnamese courses in Naples, received scholarships to continue their studies in Hanoi. He expressed hope for more cooperation and proposed establishing a Southeast Asia Research Center at the university.
Similarly, the University of Turin launched its first “Vietnamese Language and Literature” course in 1999-2000 and has maintained it ever since. In 2024–2025, 111 students registered for its experimental Vietnamese class. Meanwhile, Ca’ Foscari University plans to open a master’s program in Vietnamese and, to meet demand, is considering a dual-degree bachelor’s program with Vietnamese universities to facilitate student exchanges.
Le Thi Bich Huong, a Vietnamese lecturer at Ca’ Foscari and President of the Italy – Vietnam Cultural Bridge Association, emphasized the value of teacher training programs organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs. She called for more bilingual textbooks and teaching resources to enrich study and research in Italy, an aspiration shared by many overseas lecturers.
To support these efforts, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy has organized seminars, donated books to libraries and schools, and arranged visits by Vietnamese delegations to institutions teaching the language. These initiatives have strengthened cultural exchange, promoted cooperation, and attracted local interest in Vietnamese studies.
Speaking at the recent celebration of Vietnamese Language Day (September 8) in Italy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang expressed delight that Vietnamese is taught not only within the community but also at Italy’s historic universities. She stressed that this reflects academic interest in Vietnam and demonstrates the positive, sustainable growth of bilateral relations.
The Deputy Minister praised the dedication of the Vietnamese Embassy and Italian lecturers in promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding. She also noted that the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, in cooperation with the Vietnam Education Publishing House, has supplied books to establish Vietnamese collections abroad and meet teaching needs. She welcomed proposals for future initiatives to further honor and spread the Vietnamese language.
Translated by Tran Hoai