Spreading Vietnamese culture in the northern capital of Russia

According to the VNA correspondent in the Russian Federation, on May 21 (Moscow time), within the framework of Vietnam Week in St-Peterburg, Russia (May 19-23), the city government coordinated with the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and the Tradition and Friendship Fund to organize the Vietnamese Language and Culture Festival.

The event took place at Secondary School No. 488 in Vyborg District in the "Northern Capital of Russia."

Attending the program were Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Le Minh Hoan and the delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Ambassador of Vietnam to the Russian Federation Dang Minh Khoi, Director of the Tradition and Friendship Fund Nguyen Quoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of St. Petersburg Vyacheslav Kalganov, District Head of Vyborg Viktor Polunin, Principal of High School 488 Natalia Osennova, and hundreds of students of the school.

Students of High School 488 welcomed Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan and the Vietnamese delegation with a flashmob dance performance of “As if Uncle Ho were here on the great victory day” and “Oh Vietnam.”

The Vietnamese National Assembly delegation took a souvenir photo with teachers and students of High School 488, St. Petersburg, Russia. (Photo: Quang Vinh/VNA)

Speaking at the ceremony, Principal of High School 488 Natalia Osennova affirmed that the school always strives to implement the direction of St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov on the special importance of strengthening friendly relations with Vietnam.

Ms. Natalia Osennova was delighted to welcome the Vietnamese delegates and the St. Petersburg city government to visit the school, to immerse themselves in the bright, pure and wonderful world of Vietnam - a country with a rich history, long-standing traditions and unique cultural heritage.

The Vietnamese Language and Culture Festival is an opportunity for Russian people and students to learn more about the country, culture and people of Vietnam through traditional performances, exhibitions, folk games and rich Vietnamese cuisine.

The Principal of High School 488 would like to thank the event organizers and distinguished guests for attending and sharing today's joy with the school.

For his part, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan expressed his emotion and thanked the St. Petersburg city government and High School 488 for the warm and welcoming reception, highlighted by the songs familiar to all Vietnamese people, especially when they are far from their homeland.

Students of High School 488 dance to the flashmob "Oh Vietnam". (Photo: Quang Vinh/VNA)

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan affirmed that the students of High School 488 are the future of St. Petersburg and Russia, and will make an important contribution to maintaining, consolidating and further developing the close friendship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union and Russia today.

The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly thanked High School 488 for preserving the Vietnamese cultural space at the school, thanks to which each Vietnamese delegation coming to St. Petersburg will understand the Russian people's feelings for the country, culture and people of Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Director of the “Tradition and Friendship” Fund Nguyen Quoc Hung said the event is an activity in response to “Day of honoring Vietnamese language in the Vietnamese community abroad.”

The “Tradition and Friendship” Fund has organized many events related to the Vietnamese language, but today’s Vietnamese language and culture festival has many new features and special significance, marking a new development step in the journey of spreading Vietnamese language and culture to the youth of Vietnam and Russia, as well as promoting cultural and linguistic exchange between Vietnam and Russia.

Russian students attend a lesson on President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary career. (Photo: Quang Vinh/VNA)

At the festival, students of School 488 were especially excited to participate in a lesson about the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, experience folk games and enjoy the flavors of Vietnamese cuisine.

At the end of the event, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Le Minh Hoan and the National Assembly delegation, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi, representatives of the St. Petersburg city government and teachers and students of High School 488 offered flowers at the Ho Chi Minh monument to commemorate the 135th anniversary of his birth.

High School No. 488 is located not far from Ho Chi Minh Square, where the statue of Uncle Ho is located in the Vyborg district of St. Petersburg.

The Ho Chi Minh Monument will be inaugurated in 2023, at the intersection of the street named after "Ho Chi Minh" and the "Enlightenment" avenue in the northern capital of the land of the White Birch.

In March 2025, Governor of St. Petersburg Aleksandr Beglov signed a decree naming the square next to the Ho Chi Minh Monument "Ho Chi Minh", demonstrating the traditional friendship between the two countries and the twin cities of Ho Chi Minh and St. Petersburg./.