Before visiting the school and meeting its teachers and students, the Vietnamese delegation and local representatives attending the forum solemnly laid flowers at the monument to President Ho Chi Minh in the square named after him, near the grounds of School No. 488.
In the historic city of Saint Petersburg, the image of President Ho Chi Minh stands as a sacred symbol of the traditional friendship and enduring bonds between the peoples of Viet Nam and Russia.
Welcoming the delegation, Natalia Osennova, Principal of School No. 488, and representatives of the Vyborg District authorities expressed their pleasure and extended a warm welcome to the Vietnamese delegates.
Introducing the school’s development and its activities to foster Viet Nam–Russia friendship, the Russian representatives particularly emphasised their pride in School No. 488 becoming home to the museum space dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in 2023.
For the school’s teachers and students, this is not merely a place displaying documents and memorabilia related to President Ho Chi Minh, but also a meaningful educational space where generations of Russian students can learn about Viet Nam’s history and culture and the traditional friendship between the two peoples.
Representatives of the school and the Vyborg District authorities affirmed that local young people deeply cherish the close friendship between Viet Nam and Russia and regard learning about and preserving Viet Nam’s historical and cultural values as an important bridge for continuing and developing the positive relationship between the two countries. They also extended their sincere thanks to the Vietnamese delegation for its meaningful visit.
In the museum space dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, the Vietnamese delegates explored documents and memorabilia carefully collected and preserved by the school, and witnessed Russian students enthusiastically taking part in activities offering hands-on experiences of Vietnamese culture.
Deeply moved by the affection shown to President Ho Chi Minh by the teachers and students of School No. 488, Pham Tat Thang, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee for Mass Mobilisation, the Fatherland Front and central mass organisations, expressed his appreciation and highly valued the efforts made by the school and the Vyborg District authorities to preserve and promote historical and cultural values associated with Viet Nam.
For Pham Tat Thang and the other members of the delegation, what was moving was not only the presence of a space commemorating President Ho Chi Minh in Russia, but also the way these values are being carried forward in school life through students’ interest, learning and genuine affection.
From the documents and memorabilia carefully preserved to lessons offering hands-on experiences of Vietnamese culture, the friendship between the two peoples is not simply remembered as a legacy of history; it is also being passed on to present and future generations.
The visit was made even more meaningful when the delegation from the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the chairman of the Russian–Vietnamese Foundation for the Promotion of Cooperation “Tradition and Friendship” presented three Enlightenment Awards to three outstanding students of the school. The awards recognised and encouraged the students’ efforts to excel academically and their active contributions to fostering solidarity and friendship between Viet Nam and Russia.
The visit to School No. 488 once again demonstrated the enduring vitality of the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Russia. The simple, sincere affection that Russian teachers and students show towards President Ho Chi Minh offers a profound illustration of the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, through which bridges of friendship are built on mutual understanding, respect and human bonds, helping consolidate and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Russia.
