The news was unveiled at a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on January 15.

Highlights of the programme will be ancestral incense offering at the National Historical and Cultural Park, and tours of major cultural and historical landmarks, along with activities to connect Vietnamese expats and local people.

State President Vo Van Thuong and his wife are set to host several events, including paying tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, releasing carps for the Land Genie, and a Kitchen Gods worshipping ritual.

The President will extend New Year wishes to participants during a special art programme to be broadcast live on Vietnam Television on February 1.

Furthermore, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee will chair a meeting made up of about 1,000 OVs, introducing them to the various development achievements of the southern metropolis through 35 years of innovation and development.

Held for the first time in 2008, the programme, a joint effort between the Foreign Ministry and competent agencies, has drawn the participation of a large number of OVs from all over the world returning to their homeland to celebrate the lunar New Year festival.

There are currently around 5.3 million Vietnamese people living and working in more than 130 countries and territories worldwide. They have played an important role in both maintaining and promoting the national great solidarity bloc.