Vietnam, Russia Boost People-to-People Diplomacy
	Vietnamese, Russian Associations Strengthen People-to-people Exchanges

In the late afternoon of August 31, we met Petr Tsvetov, First Vice President of the Russia–Vietnam Friendship Association, at his hotel. In a warm and friendly atmosphere, we had a conversation with him about his feelings upon returning to Vietnam.

The moment he set foot at Noi Bai Airport, his first feelings were warmth and familiarity. This was not his first time in Vietnam - a country where he had lived and worked for many years. Even the short journey from the airport to the hotel was enough for him to notice the changes: well-paved roads and modern constructions, clear evidence of a rapidly developing Vietnam rising to new heights on the occasion of the historic 80th National Day.

Petr Tsvetov, First Vice President of the Russia–Vietnam Friendship Association. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He recalled that his love for Vietnam began during his years as a student at Moscow State University. His passion for the Vietnamese language, history, and culture was nurtured by his professors - many of whom had close ties with Vietnam. After nine years of studying Vietnamese, in 1977, he finally had the chance to set foot in the land he had long cherished. Vietnam had just been reunified, and its people had endured a hard-fought resistance war against the United States. It was precisely that resilient spirit that inspired him to devote his life and career to Vietnam.

In his recollections, he spoke of his first trip to Vietnam. In 1977, Vietnam was still a country facing many hardships and shortages. People relied on ration coupons to buy rice, meat, and fish, only in small amounts. At Dong Xuan Market, bananas were the only fruit available, with few other goods on sale. During that time, he often studied on his own at the library, researching Vietnam’s history. Petr Tsvetov vividly remembers that during the 1978 Lunar New Year, he gave each library staff member a packet of green tea - a gift simple yet precious in those days, when such items were so scarce.

Looking back at the past and present, Tsvetov could not hide his joy. Today, in Hanoi, supermarkets and markets alike are filled with goods, ranging from agricultural products to electronic devices. He often tells his students that just by opening their phones, they will immediately see the words “Made in Vietnam,” a sign that Vietnamese products have already gained global recognition.

He particularly praised the pace of GDP growth throughout the 1990s and 2000s, as well as the boom in foreign trade, clear evidence that the world increasingly values cooperation with Vietnam.

Speaking about people-to-people cooperation, he recalled that the 1990s were extremely difficult years, when the Friendship Association had almost no budget for its activities. Yet thanks to the support of former Vietnamese students who had studied in the Soviet Union, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association was still able to sustain gatherings, exhibitions, and concerts. Vietnamese artists came to perform Russian music, and Vietnamese painters actively took part in joint exhibitions.

“Those are unforgettable memories,” he said.

He observed that over the past year and a half, Russia-Vietnam relations have entered a new stage of development, marked by a series of high-level visits: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Vietnam (June 2024), National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit to Russia (September 2024), Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit to Vietnam (January 2025), and most recently, General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Russia (May 2025). In less than one year, more than 40 cooperation documents have been signed, opening up prospects for comprehensive collaboration.

Now in his seventies, Tsvetov reflects on how to continue nurturing the enduring friendship. Together with colleagues and the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, he has been discussing ways to expand activities targeting young people - from online forums where youth from both countries can interact in Russian and Vietnamese, to promoting Russian language learning in connection with practical job opportunities. For him, it is the younger generation that will carry forward and preserve the Russia-Vietnam friendship for generations to come.

Amid the proud atmosphere of these historic autumn days, he said, “The past 80 years have been a historic journey marked by many glorious victories. I wish the people of Vietnam even greater successes on the path toward building a civilized, democratic, and strong nation.”

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