Tereshkova, from Saint Petersburg State University (Russia), was in a great hurry because she had a conference session to attend as part of the ongoing Saint Petersburg international legal forum. However, Hung’s flute performance stopped her in her tracks.
She expressed her admiration. Although she has extensive knowledge of music and musical instruments, the Hmong flute played by Hung aroused her curiosity. The instrument was entirely new to her.
“I like that melody, and I like the music that you Vietnamese have brought here,” she said.
“Culture is clearly a form of co-operation. Culture is science and the foundation that drives economic development. Through culture, people understand one another better,” Ms Tereshkova added.
Unable to hide her excitement, as though immersed in the music, the woman, who is both a lawyer and a university lecturer, said:
“We may not understand a particular language, but I believe everyone understands the language of dance and music. You do not need an interpreter to understand what is happening.”
As she spoke, Ms Tereshkova pointed towards Tran Bao Viet, a Vietnamese student performing a contemporary dance.
Among the 5,000 delegates from more than 80 countries attending the event, there were many people like Tereshkova. Although rushing to attend seminars, they could not simply walk past the Viet Nam exhibition stand without stopping.
Saint Petersburg has experienced occasional rainfall these days, just as the locals often say: If you come to Saint Petersburg without getting caught in the rain, then you have not truly been to Saint Petersburg.
Outside, intermittent summer showers brought chilly weather. Yet inside the Forum’s main hall, whenever Vietnamese music began to play, accompanied by performances from the Vietnamese Student Arts Troupe in Russia, the atmosphere immediately became warm and lively.
Participating in the 14th Saint Petersburg International Legal Forum as the Guest Country, the Vietnamese delegation not only introduced initiatives during discussion sessions and seminars but also showcased an exceptionally distinctive cultural space.
Amid the busy main hall where delegates constantly passed by, the Viet Nam exhibition became an irresistible stopping point.
There, visitors experienced melodies that alternated between lively and gentle rhythms. There were musical pieces full of Eastern charm, together with graceful dances performed by Vietnamese students. The singing and dancing troupe consisted of Vietnamese students studying at universities in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Tran Phu Thuan, Vice President and Secretary General of the Union of Vietnamese Organisations in the Russian Federation, shared that according to the schedule, the arts troupe performed five sessions each day, with four performances per session, from early morning until late afternoon.
However, from time to time, at the request of delegates, they gave additional performances.
Tran Phu Thuan also revealed that the Governor of Saint Petersburg had personally suggested that the Ministry of Justice of Viet Nam contact the Vietnamese Student Arts Troupe in Moscow when preparing plans for the exhibition at this year's Forum.
Upon receiving the request, the Vietnamese community in Russia, through the Tradition and Friendship Foundation, co-operated with the Ministry of Justice of Viet Nam to organise this year's exhibition at the Forum.
“Although many students were busy with examinations, Vietnamese students in Russia were always ready to dedicate themselves by presenting carefully rehearsed singing and dancing performances to promote Vietnamese culture to international friends,” said Tran Phu Thuan.
Wearing white ao dai, ao yem, traditional costumes of the Thai, Hmong, and Red Dao ethnic groups, ao tu than, and crow-beak headscarves, the Vietnamese students made every effort to introduce the cultures of northern, central and southern Viet Nam.
Russian people have a deep love for the arts. Watching Vietnamese students studying in Russia perform programmes rich in Vietnamese identity, many Russians expressed their admiration.
Numerous audience members applauded continuously and shared that they were delighted because they could sense the Russian soul and Russian cultural spirit reflected in the students’ eyes and smiles. The students themselves are helping bring the peoples of the two countries closer together.
Watching local newspapers and television stations compete for the best camera angles to capture impressive images of the Viet Nam Exhibition, and seeing many delegates express their wish to take photographs with the dance troupe, it is no exaggeration to say that the Viet Nam Corner was one of the highlights of this year's Forum, constantly surprising visitors. The music attracted delegates to the exhibition, while the book display and Vietnamese cuisine encouraged them to stay longer.
The legal publications brought by the Justice Publishing House also aroused considerable curiosity among many delegates.
A particularly eye-catching feature was a lotus model created from copies of the Constitution of Viet Nam, symbolising that the Constitution is the foundation and spiritual root of all policies.
On either side, the Justice Publishing House arranged its publications around two pillars: one displaying core publications on the legal and institutional framework, and the other presenting publications on human rights and justice as concrete manifestations of that framework.
Speaking at the Forum, delegates commented that through these books they could see a Viet Nam that is developing continuously, making constant efforts to improve its legal and institutional framework while achieving new accomplishments, including in the fields of law and justice.
In this way, the image of Viet Nam is coming ever closer to friends in Russia and around the world.
Particularly popular were Vietnamese tea, coffee, traditional mung bean cakes, together with lotus specialities such as candied lotus seeds and dried longan stuffed with lotus seeds, which attracted countless visitors.
The gentle bitterness of the tea combined with the delicate sweetness of the longan and lotus delighted many delegates.
The experience also encouraged Russian friends to discuss more actively the potential of Vietnamese products in both the Russian and international markets.
Placing her hand over her heart, Ms Valentina Tereshkova slowly said, “Thank you, Viet Nam.”
The legal expert also shared that she would tell her students about everything she had experienced at the exhibition showcasing the land and people of Viet Nam, as well as about the co-operative relationship between the two countries, which still holds tremendous potential for future development.
