Ngày Nhà giáo Việt Nam (Vietnamese Teachers’ Day) is held on 20 November every year. It is a special occasion to thank teachers and honour what they do to educate young people and shape their future. If your children go to school in Vietnam, you will notice the day well before it arrives. In this article Flosa looks at the history of the day, suggests short, meaningful wishes for 20 November, and shows the kind of flowers people give teachers.
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The history and origin of 20 November in Vietnam
From 26 to 30 August 1957, FISE, the World Federation of Teachers’ Unions, held a conference in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, attended by teachers’ unions from 57 countries, including Vietnam’s. The conference was an important one for education: it led to 20 November being chosen as International Teachers’ Charter Day, first held on 20 November 1958. This is regarded as one of the memorable events for Vietnamese education, and it is the origin of the 20 November celebrations held every year. Since then the day has become an important occasion to remember the dedication and contribution of everyone who works in education, and to send good wishes and thanks to the people who taught us.
What 20 November means in Vietnamese culture
Vietnamese Teachers’ Day, 20 November, is a very important day, an occasion to celebrate and honour teachers and everyone who works in education in Vietnam. Two ideas run deep in Vietnamese culture: uống nước nhớ nguồn (“when you drink water, remember the source”) and tôn sư trọng đạo (“respect the teacher, honour the teaching”). Pupils of every age are expected to remember, with sincere gratitude, the care their teachers have given to bringing them up.
Besides honouring those who contribute to education, 20 November is also an important time to review and assess educational work across the country. It gives the education sector a chance to look again at quality and set new directions to raise it, helping to build a better learning environment and to guide the long-term development of the education system.
On this occasion in particular, flowers for teachers on 20 November and meaningful 20 November gifts are not only a way of saying thank you; they also become fond memories for pupils and teachers alike.
Short, meaningful wishes for 20 November
These wishes are written as a pupil would write them on a card. A female teacher is addressed as cô and a male teacher as thầy; the pupil calls themselves em, or con (“child”) in the warmer style used by young children. Where a wish says thầy/cô, choose the one that fits.
Nhân dịp ngày 20/11, em mới có cơ hội để nói với cô những lời tận đáy lòng em. Em cảm ơn cô vì tất cả những ngày tháng qua đã dạy dỗ chúng em nên người, thành một con người tử tế và có hiểu biết. Có lẽ, lời nói cảm ơn của em chẳng thể chứa đựng hết tất cả, nên em sẽ cố gắng vâng lời những thứ cô từng dạy. “20 November gives me the chance to tell you what is in my heart. Thank you for all these months of teaching us to grow into decent, knowledgeable people. A thank-you can never say it all, so I will try to follow everything you have taught me.”
Nhân ngày nhà giáo Việt Nam, em xin chúc cô có nhiều sức khỏe, hạnh phúc bên gia đình và người thân. Chúc cô có thêm nhiều động lực để tiếp tục dìu dắt nhiều thế hệ học trò đến với bến bờ tri thức., “On Vietnamese Teachers’ Day, I wish you good health and happiness with your family and loved ones, and the strength to keep guiding many more generations of pupils to the shores of knowledge.”
Cảm ơn những tình cảm và kiến thức cô dành cho chúng em. Chúc thầy cô luôn mạnh khỏe và đạt được nhiều thành tựu trên con đường mình chọn nha., “Thank you for the affection and knowledge you have given us. We wish you good health and much success on the path you have chosen.”
Những bước đi đầu tiên khi con còn bé là rất khó khăn, cũng như những chữ viết đầu tiên con viết được là nhờ cô. Những lời dạy của cô ngày đó con vẫn nhớ nè. Nhân ngày hôm nay 20/11, con xin kính chúc cô luôn có nhiều sức khỏe và hạnh phúc. “My first steps as a little child were hard, and the first letters I could write were thanks to you. I still remember what you taught me then. Today, 20 November, I wish you good health and happiness.”
Một chữ là thầy, nửa chữ cũng là thầy. Em xin gửi lời cảm ơn chân thành nhất đến thầy. Em sẽ mãi ghi nhớ những bài học quý giá mà thầy đã dạy. Chúc thầy ngày 20/11 thật vui vẻ và hạnh phúc. Những điều may mắn sẽ đến với thầy thật nhiều., “Whoever teaches you one word, or even half a word, is your teacher (an old saying). My most sincere thanks to you. I will always remember the precious lessons you taught me. Have a happy 20 November, and may plenty of good luck come your way.”
Thầy ơi, kiến thức thầy truyền đạt như bậc thềm đá để chúng em vững bước tiến lên phía trước. Nhân dịp ngày nhà giáo Việt Nam 20/11 em xin kính chúc thầy tất cả, thật nhiều sức khỏe, niềm vui và yêu thương, kiên nhẫn với chúng em. Cảm ơn thầy thật nhiều., “The knowledge you pass on is like a flight of stone steps that lets us move forward with confidence. On Vietnamese Teachers’ Day I wish you every good thing: health, joy, love, and patience with us. Thank you so much.”
Em tuy không phải là một trò xuất sắc, đôi khi lại còn “lười biếng”. Tuy vậy thầy vẫn kiên nhẫn chỉ bảo, yêu thương luôn tận tụy với chúng em. Thầy là người thầy mà em yêu quý nhất. Em chúc thầy có một ngày 20/11 thật vui vẻ bên tụi em, chúc thầy luôn khỏe mạnh, những bài giảng luôn hay và thầy mãi là người thầy của chúng em. “I am not an outstanding pupil, and sometimes I am even a bit lazy, yet you have always guided us patiently and with devotion. You are my favourite teacher. I wish you a happy 20 November with us, good health, great lessons, and that you will always be our teacher.”
Sự dạy dỗ ân cần của cô như gió mùa xuân, như cơn mưa lành, khắc sâu mãi trong lòng em. Em thành kính chúc cô 20/11 mạnh khỏe, hạnh phúc và công tác tốt. “Your caring teaching is like a spring breeze, like gentle rain, and it stays deep in my heart. With respect, I wish you health, happiness and success in your work this 20 November.”
Một lời cảm ơn có lẽ là không đủ so với thời gian, kiến thức và công sức mà cô đã làm cho em. Em chúc cô luôn mãi mãi vui tính, trẻ trung, và thành công trong sự nghiệp nhà giáo cô nhé. “A thank-you is not enough for all the time, knowledge and effort you have given me. I wish you to stay cheerful and young at heart, and successful in your teaching career.”
Nhân ngày 20/11, em xin gửi tới cô lời chúc chân thành nhất với tất cả lòng thành kính của em. Chúc cô có một ngày nhà giáo trọn vẹn, nhiều yêu thương! “On 20 November I send you my most sincere wishes, with all my respect. Have a wonderful Teachers’ Day, full of love!”
Thầy cô như người cha người mẹ đối với em, là người luôn nâng đỡ em trong lúc khó khăn, chập chững trên hành trình trưởng thành. Nhân ngày 20/11, em xin cảm ơn và chúc thầy cô những điều tốt đẹp nhất. “You are like a father or mother to me, always there to support me through hard times and my first unsteady steps towards growing up. On 20 November, thank you, and I wish you all the very best.”
Đối với em, sự kiên nhẫn và hi sinh của thầy cô luôn được tôn vinh mỗi ngày mỗi giờ, chứ không phải duy nhất hôm nay 20/11. Chúng em chúc thầy/cô mọi điều tốt đẹp nhất!, “For me, your patience and sacrifice deserve to be honoured every day and every hour, not only today, 20 November. We wish you all the very best!”
How Vietnamese Teachers’ Day is celebrated
A ceremony at school
A ceremony is held at schools every year on 20 November
On this day, schools all over the country usually hold memorable ceremonies to honour their teachers. The ceremony normally takes place on the morning of 20 November, with pupils, parents and the wider community taking part. Pupils are usually very excited, because there are activities such as performances, awards for teachers and special shows put on by the pupils to thank their teachers.
Card-making competitions for teachers
Children design the cards themselves and give them to their teachers in person
Teachers often suggest a card-making competition for younger children for Vietnamese Teachers’ Day. It is a meaningful activity, because the children design the cards with their own hands and give them to the teachers they are fond of. The competition not only encourages pupils’ creativity but also helps them show their affection and gratitude to their teachers.
A school concert for Vietnamese Teachers’ Day
Pupils show their artistic talents on stage
A concert is an essential part of 20 November every year, and one of the moments pupils, parents and teachers look forward to most. Pupils prepare songs, dances or other performances to express their gratitude. It is seen as a wonderful chance for children to show their talents and feelings in front of the whole school.
Drawing pictures for 20 November
Charming drawings that carry the pupils’ sincere feelings
Drawing is another way of celebrating, which lets pupils draw freely and show their artistic gifts. The pictures usually show their teachers’ portraits, the school, or moments they treasure, and they carry a message of affection and gratitude to the teachers the children love.
Wall newspapers and class magazines for teachers
Making a wall newspaper is an activity almost every school has
Besides the main activities such as performances, drawings and cards, pupils often make a báo tường (a “wall newspaper”, a large decorated poster with articles and pictures) or a small magazine dedicated to their teachers. These are filled with words of praise, memorable stories and pictures that stand for the effort teachers and pupils make together.
Giving gifts to thank teachers on 20 November
A fresh bouquet is a familiar gift, but its meaning lasts
Last but not least come the meaningful gifts sent by pupils and parents. They may be books, fruit, money, flowers or other presents. On the day, school grounds fill with fresh, beautiful bouquets in eye-catching colours.
In this article Flosa has looked at the history and origin of Vietnamese Teachers’ Day, shared warm wishes for 20 November, and described the activities pupils and parents take part in to honour their teachers. At Flosa you can find elegant bouquets for teachers, at a range of prices. Contact us for friendly, careful advice.
