With a history of 74 years of bilateral diplomatic relations (January 30, 1950-2024) and 12 years of comprehensive strategic partnership (July, 2012 - 2024), the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Russian has always maintained stability and developed on the foundation of traditional friendship.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Phuc (left) - Rector of the University of Foreign Language Studies-UD signed a cooperation agreement with the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia - RUDN University at the Viet Nam - Russia University Rectors Forum. Photo: the Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies

Strengthening solidarity and friendship

In the late autumn days, when the cold of early winter came, it brought back many unforgettable memories to Vietnamese people who once lived in the Russian Federation. This made them even more excited about their upcoming participation in the exchange programme highlighting the Viet Nam - Russian friendship on December 6 in Da Nang. The event will be organised by the Da Nang chapter of the Viet Nam - Russian Friendship Association.

As reported by Ms. Phan Thi Thuy, the President of the Da Nang chapter of the Viet Nam - Russia Friendship Association, the much-awaited exchange programme is held annually so as to strengthen solidarity between the two countries. The event is expected to see the attendance of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, Russian friends working in Da Nang and members of the Viet Nam - Russia Friendship Association.

“Viet Nam always identifies its relationship with the Russian Federation as having strategic importance and considering the Russia a leading important partner in Viet Nam’s foreign policy. Russia considers Viet Nam a reliable partner and one of the top priorities in Russia’s foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region. In Da Nang, the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia is always warm,” Ms. Phan Thi Thuy emphasised.

In recent times, the Da Nang chapter of the Viet Nam - Russia Friendship Association has regularly coordinated with the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Da Nang, the Russian Language Faculty of the University of Foreign Language Studies , a member of the University of Da Nang-UD) to organise high;y practical, meaningful cultural exchange activities.

Up to now, Da Nang has had cooperative relationships with a number of Russian localities such as Yaroslav, Nizhegorod and Briansk.

In Da Nang, there are four Russian-invested projects worth a total of about over US$ 6 million. Some Da Nang enterprises such as Danapha Pharmaceutical JSC, Matrix Viet Nam Co., Ltd., Da Nang Rubber JSC, SOVITCOM JSC, Da Nang Pharmaceutical - Medical Equipment JSC have established import-export relations with Russia.

Tourism promotion and advertising activities across the city are, for the time being, gradually becoming more active again. Many Russian visitors come to Da Nang to stay for resort, trade and conference tourism. There is still a lot of room for development cooperation between Da Nang and Russian businesses and localities to be exploited in a more effective, highly practical manner.

Cultural exchange, educational and training cooperation

The Viet Nam - Russia Friendship Organisation at the Russian Language Faculty, the Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies regularly organises cultural and linguistic exchanges, along with educational and training cooperation programmers with Russia.

In particular, this tertiary establishment has inked many many cooperation agreements with universities in Russia such as the Far Eastern Federal University, the Tula State University, the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia (Herzen University) and the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University.

From 2019 to 2024, the Russian Language Department has received 6 experts from universities in Russia, and currently there are nearly 40 students of the Russian Language Faculty of the Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies living and studying at Moscow-located universities.

According to Dr. Nguyen Van Hien, the Dean of the Russian Language Faculty, the Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies, the school currently has a team of volunteers including lecturers and experts from Russian universities who have signed a contract to teach Da Nang students, thereby conveying the unique culture, customs and good practices of Russia.

Along with that, Russian nationals living in Da Nang who are very passionate about developing the Russian language and culture work as volunteers at the Russian Language Faculty.  In particular, every year, the Russian Language Faculty sends students to participate in the Russian Language Olympiad and achieve many high results, receiving scholarships to study at universities in Russia.

In addition, students of the Russian Language Faculty regularly participate in competitions and courses organised by the Russian Centre for Science and Culture in the capital city of Ha Noi, the Pushkin Institute, universities in Russia, and the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Da Nang, such as participating in specialized lessons on the occasion of the Aviation and Space Day; the literary translation contest ‘Great words have become proverbs’; the international summer camp in 2024 at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University.

In addition, lecturers of the Russian Language Faculty regularly participate in conferences, seminars, and courses at home and abroad to enhance their professional qualifications as well as exchange and share teaching experiences and scientific research activities with colleagues from universities at home and abroad.

Recently, in order to strengthen the connection between the partners in people-to-people diplomacy, on November 26, 2023, at the Da Nang-located APEC Park, the association organised the ‘Viet Nam - Russia Cultural Exchange’ to introduce Russian culture to the people of Da Nang and Vietnamese culture to Russian friends.

In particular, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Russian Federation (January 30, 1950 - 2020), the association coordinated with relevant agencies to organise the workshop ‘70 years of friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia’ combined with a photo exhibition on July 3, 2020 with the participation of nearly 200 domestic and foreign delegates.

The success of the workshop contributed to deepening the time-honoured traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries. In the coming time, the association will continue to strengthen its role and responsibility in people’s diplomacy with Russia, contributing with member associations under the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations to build an increasingly strong people's diplomacy.

Reporting by DOAN HAO LUONG - Translating by A.THU