Vietnamese Youth in the Russian Federation: Looking Towards the Motherland

Although miles away from home, Vietnamese expats in Russia still look towards the Motherland. Whenever they hear the call from their Vietnamese brothers and sisters, the expats in Russia quickly gather together to raise funds for special causes back home.

As the Vietnamese community in Russia is vast, here are only a few stories of patriotism abroad.

Stand up FOR Homeland SOVEREIGNTY

In May, a post on the Vietnamese Association in the Russian Federation's Primorye province's Facebook page was made to call for financial support to build "sovereign boats" for Truong Sa Island district. This announcement reached the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok city. Le Nguyen Thanh Lan, a Vietnamese student at Admiral Nevelskoy Maritime State Universit together with the Executive Committee of the Vladivostok City Youth Union decided to create a campaign to raise funds directly to support the homeland's sea and islands.

From early in the morning, Lan and his friends went to markets in Vladivostok city, where Vietnamese people doing business to disseminate information and call for support.

“The entire list and the amount of money donated by the community are fully documented by them. The amount of VND 37 million (USD 1.400) was sent to Vietnam by the Vietnamese Association in the Primorye province," said Thanh Lan.

Trinh Quoc Vinh went to collect donations at the Vietnamese market in Vladivostok city, Russia on March 20, 2022 (Photo courtesy of Trinh Quoc Vinh).

Trinh Quoc Vinh, a former PhD student at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), is also a donation collector.

“At that time (March 2022), my friends and I, Le Nguyen Thanh Lan and Dang Huu Vinh, went to each market has Vietnamese businesses to call for support. The amount of VND 37 million has been successfully raised and was sent to Vietnam by the Vietnamese Association in the province," reports Vinh.

SHARING IS CARING

A book festival in the series of 2022 activities organized by the volunteer group Vong tay Viet-Nga.

On the weekend, Moscow seems to be more bustling when hundreds of young people gather at a Vietnamese restaurant to participate in a book festival titled "Buds" in the series of activities "Seeds 2022" organized by the volunteer group Vong tay Viet-Nga (Vietnam-Russia Bracelet).

More than 1,000 books from Moscow and other cities were sent to the group with lots of affection. After collecting and classifying, Vong tay Viet-Nga's leader Tran Thi Van Anh (Plekhanov Russian University of Economics) and members conducted online sales of books, organized the book festival, so that students have the opportunity to exchange books directly and spread the reading culture among young people.

Profits were raised for a project that provides meals for students in highlands provinces , giving them more motivation to excel in their studies. Even after the book festival ended, nearly 100 books continued to be sent to the group.

“All the books are kept in our dormitory. However, the space in there is only this big and it’s such a waste that the books are not being used. Therefore, we are planning to call for the help of the Vietnamese community in Russia to establish a library and develop a reading culture for young people in the Russia," said Van Anh.

Tran Thi Van Anh, leader of Vong tay Viet-Nga (Photo courtesy of Tran Thi Van Anh).

Besides "Bud," in the series of events "Seeds 2022", there are also a Vietnamese food and drink fair and a music night. Vong tay Viet-Nga reckoned that there are still many things for Vietnamese young people in Russia to do their utmost to help disadvantaged children back home. For Van Anh and Vong tay Viet-, the series of events "Seeds 2022" could not have been successful without the cooperation of the student community in Russia.

The volunteer group Vong tay Viet-Nga was established in 2017. The biggest purpose of the group is to help Vietnamese people in difficult circumstances and bring students closer together.

Vong tay Viet-Nga donate clothes, teaching local students and children at the hospital, organizing Vietnamese Tet (Lunar New Year) programs, promoting Vietnamese culture and image with friends in the host country.

With the spirit towards the Fatherland of union members, Vietnamese youths across Russia have raised VND 155 million (USD 6.200) to send to the Vaccine Fund for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of the Central Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Donating to the program "Sharing with the Central Region" launched by the Central Committee of the Youth Union, the Youth Union's Personnel Committee had raised VND 150 million (USD 6.000) to support the people affected by storms and floods in the Central region.

Vietnamese Youth in the Russian Federation: Looking Towards the Motherland Phung Khanh Tai, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front receives the donation.

Phung Khanh Tai, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, highly appreciated the noble gesture and affection of the union members and youths of the Youth Union Committee in the Russian Federation.

“Each overseas union member has overcome the difficulties of the pandemic during this period to support to the Motherland. They has shown great act of responsibility and pride of Vietnamese people to international friends." said Phung Khanh Tai.

The noble acts of young people in Russia have are representative of national love and patriotism. While they live in a different land, they still follow the Vietnamese values of helping the disadvantaged.

Reporter: Hoang Yen

Translator: Hannah Nguyen

Graphic: Zoey Nguyen