​The Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association of Dong Nai province (the Association) was officially established on March 13^th, 2015. During six years of operation, despite many difficulties, the Association has achieved certain results in the people-to-people diplomacy which helps nurture the ties of Vietnam and Cambodia peoples.

Tirelessly consolidating and building the organization

Dong Nai used to be the site of the Cambodia’s Armed Forces for country salvation (Ruins of Corps 125), also the shelter of many voluntary veterans, former Vietnamese experts (about 5,000) as well as thousands of Vietnamese people living in Cambodian and Khmer ethnic group (4,000 people).

Therefore, right after the first Congress when the Association only gathered 296 members, the Executive Board put forth solutions to bring together former experts, voluntary soldiers and people having affections towards Cambodia.

By implementing such policy, the branch in Cam My district, inter-branches in Long Khanh city together with Expert branch were established in two years 2016 - 2017. In the next subsequent years 2018 - 2020, other inter-branches of the Association were respectively founded in Thong Nhat, Nhon Trach, Tan Phu and Xuan Loc districts.

Up to now, the Association has 4,431 members, making it the bilateral friendship owning the crowdest members in Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations. Members are now extended to not only voluntary soldiers, former experts but also Buddhist monks, businessmen and especially Vietnamese people living in Cambodia and Khmer ethnic group.

Vibrant activities held by the Association in recent years have gradually become a friendship bridge and formed the external front of the Dong Nai people with the Cambodian people.

Promote the role of friendship connectivity

The close-knit relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia has been cultivated over generations. To keep such sentiment "to be everlasting and sustainable", the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Dong Nai since its establishment always identifies that building a friendship connectivity is among the main tasks of the Association.

On the annual anniversary of the victory January 7^th, 1979, the Cambodian National Day, the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations and the Chol Chhnam Thmay new year, the Association will organize meetings, exchanges and traditional talks with the attendance of Cambodian students in Dong Nai, Vietnamese people who used to fight and work in Cambodia, and especially the Consulate of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City.

The contents and forms of each event will be established appropriately depending on its meaningfulness, but all to ensure the goals of education, gratitude for the wholehearted support and mutual gratitude between the two peoples and the armies, and reminiscene about the vital rules of bilateral ties.

In recent years, the members have many chances to attend a visit back to the old battlefields, partake gatherings welcoming the Cambodia’s traditional new year, join the camp "Capturing friendship, sharing the Mekong river", participate in contests for food, knowledge, traditional costumes, cultural exchanges, sports and offer scholarships. These events have helped connect between generations, also aroused and motivated an everlasting special solidarity from the young generation of the two countries.

Besides, the Association members also actively visit and encourage each other struggling in hardship and on New Year holiday. So far 3,000 gifts have been handed over to martyrs, soldiers and veterans. Despite the humble material value, these gifts mean the sharing hearts given in difficult times.

The second term of the Association is about to take place in the coming time. With a steady development of the Association in many localities, the provincial Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association is full of confidence that it will be a solid bilateral friendship that will stand alongside the other associations to successfully implement the people-to-people diplomatic affairs.