Vietnam welcome gate in Nong Khai province. (Source: VNA)

The ceremony was part of a series of activities to mark the 47th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations, and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their strategic partnership.

Before returning to Vietnam in 1960, overseas Vietnamese in Nong Khai province had made donations in cash and kind to build a road in the locality in order to thank the King and Thai authorities who supported them in difficult times.

Vietnamese Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh expressed his sincere thanks to the King, Royal Family, Government and people of Thailand for nearly a century of welcoming, protecting and creating favourable conditions for Thai people of the Vietnamese origin to settle down in and integrate into the host country, and become part of the ethnic community in Thailand.

He also thanked authorities of Nong Khai province and Nong Khai town for accompanying and supporting the Vietnamese community in the province in the process of building this meaningful welcome gate.

There are currently around 20,000 Thai people of the Vietnamese origin living in Nong Khai province.