Ho Chi Minh Square officially inaugurated in Saint Petersburg
WVR - As part of her official visit to Russia, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary To Lam, attended the inauguration ceremony of Ho Chi Minh Square and visited Secondary School No. 488, which features a museum space dedicated to the Vietnamese leader.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and Vietnamese delegation, Russian officials, members of the Vietnamese expatriate community, and Russian friends. attend the official inauguration of the Ho Chi Minh Square. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
On the morning of 29 July (local time), a square named after President Ho Chi Minh was officially inaugurated in the Vyborg District of St. Petersburg, Russia, in the presence of Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and a Vietnamese delegation. The event was also attended by Vietnamese and Russian officials, members of the Vietnamese expatriate community, and Russian friends.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, together with leaders of Saint Petersburg, solemnly unveiled the red cloth covering the plaque inscribed with “Ho Chi Minh Square," marking the official inauguration of the site. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, together with leaders of Saint Petersburg, solemnly unveiled the red cloth covering the plaque inscribed with “Ho Chi Minh Square," marking the official inauguration of the site. At the heart of the square stands a statue of President Ho Chi Minh, prominently positioned at the intersection of Enlightenment Avenue and Ho Chi Minh Street.
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| In an atmosphere filled with emotion, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, along with Vietnamese and Russian delegates, overseas Vietnamese and a large number of Russian friends, offered flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh as a gesture of deep respect. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
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| At the ceremony on the morning of 29 July, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and other delegates shared heartfelt reflections on the national liberation hero and eminent cultural figure of Vietnam, who is also remembered as a great friend of the Russian people.(Photo: Hoang Hon |
The event marked a highlight of the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia, taking place in one of the Russian cities with the closest and most vibrant ties with Vietnam.
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| Russian friends, offered flowers at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh as a gesture of deep respect. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
At the inauguration ceremony, Madame Ly and other delegates laid flowers and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, shared heartfelt reflections on the national liberation hero and eminent cultural figure of Vietnam, who is also remembered as a great friend of the Russian people.
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| St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
In his remarks, St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov emphasised that the strong ties between Vietnam and St. Petersburg are built not only on economic cooperation but also on the enduring friendship – an orientation endorsed by both President Vladimir Putin and Party General Secretary To Lam.
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| At the inauguration ceremony, Madame Ly and other delegates laid flowers and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
“The inauguration of Ho Chi Minh Square today continues the tradition of friendship between our two countries and peoples. It stands as a symbol of generational continuity and the readiness to further develop Russia-Vietnam cooperation, particularly at the local level”, Governor Alexander Beglov emphasized.
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| The inauguration of Ho Chi Minh Square today continues the tradition of friendship between our two countries and peoples. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
He noted that five years ago, St. Petersburg named Vietnam a priority partner in its foreign policy. The inauguration of the square in the Russia’s second largest city is a symbol of the continued cooperation and lasting friendship. According to the Governor, Ho Chi Minh Square stands as a reminder of the historical bond between the two nations and also a source of inspiration for future collaboration.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi expressed his deep honour to attend the ceremony. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi expressed his deep honour to attend the ceremony. He thanked the St. Petersburg administration for naming the square after President Ho Chi Minh, and for unveiling it on the occasion of the leader's 135th birth anniversary and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
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| Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi thanked the St. Petersburg administration for naming the square after President Ho Chi Minh, and for unveiling it on the occasion of the leader's 135th birth anniversary and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
He noted that with the square’s inauguration, St. Petersburg now hosts a significant memorial complex dedicated to Ho Chi Minh, including a statue, a street named after him since 1978, and a museum space at Secondary School No. 488 near the square. These, he said, demonstrate the deep affection and respect the Russian people have for the Vietnamese leader and the value they place on the two nations’ traditional friendship.
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| Following the inauguration, Madame Ly visited Secondary School No. 488, which features a prominent Ho Chi Minh museum space. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Following the inauguration, Madame Ly visited Secondary School No. 488, which features a prominent Ho Chi Minh museum space.
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| Students of the school, wearing red scarves and holding the national flags of Vietnam and Russia, warmly welcomed Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and the accompanying delegates. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Students of the school, wearing red scarves and holding the national flags of Vietnam and Russia, warmly welcomed Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and the accompanying delegates. Inside the museum space dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh, numerous photographs capturing various stages of his life are on display, offering visitors deeper insight into the life, legacy, and enduring influence of Vietnam’s founding President.
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| Students of Secondary School No. 488 recited the poems “Vietnam - My Homeland” (Viet Nam que huong toi) and “The Rice Grain of Our Village” (Hat gao lang ta) in Vietnamese, and performed a traditional lotus dance. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
She gifted the school a bust of Ho Chi Minh, a book titled “President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam – Russia Friendship”, a model of the simple stilt house where he once lived and worked, and commemorative badges featuring his image.
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| Russian students introduced each artifact in the museum space to Madame Ngo Phuong Ly. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly and accompanying delegates visit the museum space. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Madame Ly encouraged the students to study well and praised the teachers for their dedication, expressing her hope that one day, a school in St. Petersburg will bear the name of the revered leader as this city was the first place in the Soviet Russia he set foot in – in 1923 – during his journey for national salvation.
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her sincere gratitude to the teachers of Secondary School No. 488 for not only imparting knowledge but also inspiring their students to explore Vietnam's culture, land and people. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Delighted to learn about the Vietnamese language class at the school, she expressed her hope that Vietnamese teaching and learning activities there would be held more regularly and effectively in the future.
Warmly inquiring about the students’ Vietnamese language learning journey, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expressed her sincere gratitude to the teachers of Secondary School No. 488 for not only imparting knowledge but also inspiring their students to explore Vietnam's culture, land and people. (Photo: Hoang Hong)
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| Madame Ngo Phuong Ly expresses her heartfelt appreciation for the deep affection shown by the teachers and students of Secondary School No. 488 in particular and the Russian people in general, towards President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
On this occasion, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly presented Secondary School No. 488 with a statue of President Ho Chi Minh, along with the book "Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam-Russia Friendship", a model of his simple stilt house where he once lived and worked, and badges bearing his image for the students.
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| On this occasion, Madame Ngo Phuong Ly presented Secondary School No. 488 with a statue of President Ho Chi Minh, book and stilt house. (Photo: Hoang Hong) |
Also on July 29, the Vietnamese People Association in St. Petersburg was officially granted legal status by the city’s authority, which marks a significant step in strengthening the association’s role in local life. A cooperation agreement was also signed to support Vietnamese citizens, preserve cultural identity, and further foster Vietnam – Russia relations.
