Inauguration of Ho Chi Minh Square in Saint Petersburg

The inauguration ceremony of Ho Chi Minh Square took place on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of his birth and the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. The center of the Square is the Statue of President Ho Chi Minh, located in a solemn location in the Vyborgsky district of Saint Petersburg, at the intersection of Khai Sang and Ho Chi Minh Streets.

At the ceremony, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the delegates emotionally recalled the national liberation hero, outstanding cultural figure of Vietnam and great friend of the Russian people.

The wife of General Secretary To Lam and the leaders of Saint Petersburg city solemnly opened the red cloth on the signboard with the words “Ho Chi Minh Square”, marking the official inauguration of the square. In an emotional atmosphere, she, along with Vietnamese and Russian delegates, Vietnamese expatriates and many Russian friends, took turns offering flowers to the monument, expressing their respect to President Ho Chi Minh.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor of Saint Petersburg Alexander Beglov affirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin and General Secretary To Lam are very interested in consolidating and strengthening the Vietnam-Russia relationship. He said that Saint Petersburg is currently the leading locality in Russia in joint activities with Vietnam.

“The official inauguration ceremony of Ho Chi Minh Square today is a continuation of the tradition of friendship between the two countries and peoples, a symbol of the inheritance of generations, of the readiness to develop and cooperate between Russia and Vietnam, especially between localities,” Governor Alexander Beglov emphasized.

The Square named after Him in Saint Petersburg, according to Mr. Alexander Beglov, is not only a reminder of the historical connection between the two countries but also a new driving force for cooperation between the two sides in the coming time.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Russian Federation Dang Minh Khoi emphasized that with the official inauguration of Ho Chi Minh Square, Saint Petersburg city has a complex about the great leader of Vietnam, including the Monument and Square named after Uncle Ho, the street named after Ho Chi Minh since 1978 and the museum space about the Vietnamese leader at High School No. 488 near the Square.

According to Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi, these things show the love and deep respect of Russian friends for President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam, as well as the Russian side's appreciation for the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

In a respectful gesture towards President Ho Chi Minh, after leaving the Square named after him, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the delegation went to the nearby High School No. 488. This is a special school with a museum space containing many artifacts about Uncle Ho and the country of Vietnam.

Students of High School 488 wearing red scarves and holding Vietnamese and Russian flags welcomed Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly and the delegates. Inside the museum space about President Ho Chi Minh, many photos about different stages in his life are displayed, helping students and Russians who love Uncle Ho understand more about the first President of Vietnam.

Here, students from High School 488 recited the poems “My Homeland Vietnam” and “Our Village’s Rice Grains” in Vietnamese along with a lotus dance. They also introduced each artifact in the museum to the wife of General Secretary To Lam.

Expressing her emotion at the great affection of teachers and students of High School No. 488 in particular and the Russian people in general for Uncle Ho, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly affirmed that the visit to the school was one of the special things of this working trip to Russia. The school's museum space dedicated to Uncle Ho and Vietnam made her and the delegation feel close and familiar, just like being in Vietnam.

Kindly asking about the students' Vietnamese learning process at school, the Lady sincerely thanked the efforts of the teachers of Secondary School No. 488, not only teaching the students knowledge but also inspiring them to learn about the culture, country and people of Vietnam.

Delighted with the news that there is now a Vietnamese class at High School No. 488, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly hopes that in the future, Vietnamese teaching and learning activities here will be organized more regularly and effectively.

The Madam said that in Vietnam, there are many schools named after President Ho Chi Minh during his revolutionary activities. With Saint Petersburg, the first place in Soviet Russia that Uncle Ho visited in 1923, the Madam hopes that in the future there will be a school named after him.

Respectfully taking note of the Madam's opinion, the Vyborgsky District Governor of Saint Petersburg and the Principal of Secondary School No. 488 said that in the future, the museum space about President Ho Chi Minh will continue to be maintained and expanded, so that this place will become a destination not only for students but also for Russians who love Uncle Ho and Vietnam.

The Principal of High School No. 488 affirmed that next school year there will be lessons about Vietnam and Vietnamese language for students, and sincerely thanked the Party and State of Vietnam for their attention to the school in general and Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly in particular.

On this occasion, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly presented High School No. 488 with a statue of President Ho Chi Minh; presented the book “Ho Chi Minh with Vietnam-Russia friendship”, a model of the simple stilt house where Uncle Ho lived and worked; presented the students with badges with Uncle Ho’s image, and advised them to always be good and study well.

As for the teachers of the school, she hopes that the teaching staff here will always have good health, continue to contribute to the cause of educating people, and contribute to strengthening the friendship between the people of the two countries and the two nations.

That same evening, at the Saint Petersburg City Government Palace, Mr. Alexander Beglov, Governor of Saint Petersburg, received and solemnly entertained Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly. The wife of General Secretary To Lam presented and introduced to the Saint Petersburg Governor gifts that she participated in designing.