Hanoi, Vietnam – In a personal location on a slim avenue in downtown Hanoi, a bunch of greater than 20 individuals listened intently to Saleem Hammad, a charismatic 30-year-old Palestinian man, as he spoke in fluent Vietnamese.
Hammad, who runs a enterprise in Vietnam, shared an incident from his childhood in Jenin within the occupied West Financial institution.
These current listened as he recounted a vivid reminiscence of waking up one evening as Israeli troopers surrounded and raided his household dwelling.
Earlier, he had advised these attending the dialogue that Vietnam's historical past of liberation battle in opposition to america had impressed the Palestinians of their battle in opposition to Israel's occupation of their lands.
“The Vietnamese individuals, with their painful and superb historical past, have at all times been the supply of inspiration for the Palestinians in our battle for justice,” Hammad advised his viewers.
“We’re at all times ready for you because the position mannequin.”
Horrified by Israel's struggle on Gaza and the spiraling demise toll, primarily younger Vietnamese have begun to boost their voices in help of the Palestinians. Within the course of, they uncover historic hyperlinks between Vietnam and Palestine and their widespread struggles for nationwide liberation.
However the decades-old relationship between the 2 nations has been overshadowed by the newer promotion of Israel's enterprise tradition to a youthful technology of Vietnamese.
Centered on reaching success in Vietnam's fast-growing free market financial system, many have been impressed by Israel's start-up tradition whereas figuring out little of the darker aspect of Israel's success. relating to their lengthy occupation of Palestinian land.
Organized late final yr by pro-Palestinian activists Trinh* and Vuong*, the assembly the place Hammad spoke was impressed by the scholar activism the pair encountered whereas finding out in america.
Trinh and Vuong are a part of a rising grassroots motion amongst Vietnamese youth who’ve been drawn to the Palestinian trigger for the reason that struggle in Gaza started in October.
However Vietnam's strict insurance policies in opposition to public assemblies and political activism imply that pro-Palestinian activists need to provide you with low-key and artistic methods to prepare occasions with out attracting the undesirable consideration of Vietnamese authorities.
In Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Trinh and a few mates organized talks about Palestine and drawing lessons with a Palestinian theme. A designer by coaching, Trinh has additionally labored with fellow creatives to design pro-Palestine merchandise, political artwork and fanzines.
![Vietnamese youth create art in support of Palestine [Courtesy of Cat Nguyen]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_8360-1711525398.jpg?w=770)
In November, a screening of documentaries and movies about Palestine, the Nakba and the historical past of the Israeli occupation of Palestine was held underneath the title Movies for Liberation: Palestine Endlessly with the intention, in accordance with the organizers, to cancel ” and demonizing descriptions of the Palestinians” by “western and imperialist” actors.
On social media, a bunch of Vietnamese-language fan pages sprung up with translated Palestinian poems, pro-Palestine art work and evaluation on the historical past of the battle because the Palestinian embassy in Vietnam invited former veterans of the struggle in opposition to america, lecturers. , activists and members of the general public at a commemoration for the useless in Gaza.
On November 29, which is the Worldwide Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian Individuals designated by the United Nations, the Vietnamese authorities additionally launched a message from then President Vo Van Thuong wherein he spoke of the lengthy historical past of brotherhood between Vietnam and Palestine and “Vietnam. sturdy help and solidarity with the Palestinians of their battle for justice.”
However the relationship between Vietnam and Palestine isn’t because it as soon as was.
