The world has changed a lot, but the love and faith in the land and people of Russia among generations of people who have studied in Russia are still intact. The memories are as fresh as old days and will live forever in the hearts of those who have been sentimentally attached to beautiful Russia.

Ms. Ngoc still maintains her passion for collecting vinyl records. Photo courtesy of Nhu Ngoc

Meeting directly with people who have lived and studied in Russia, we can see that their love for Russia is simple, close, dear and strangely deep. There is always a deep nostalgia for Russia in the heart of Ms. Vu Nhu Ngoc, who used to work at the branch of the Viet Nam Television Station in the Central Highlands - Central region, now VTV8 channel.

As a student of the Russian Language Faculty, the Da Nang University of Foreign Languages Studies, a member school of the University of Da Nang, school year 1988 - 1992, she studied in Oryol, a city located on the banks of the Oka River, about 360km southwest of the capital Moscow. For her, memories of studying in Russia in several years highlights the birch trees (Betula) reflecting their shadows, the Matryoshka dolls, and the old vinyl records that she affectionately calls “heritage of memories”.

“Until now, I still love and am grateful to Russia and the Russian language for giving me valuable experiences and knowledge. And over time, I realised that this love in me is not necessarily living in nostalgia, recalling old stories, listening to old songs... but also having a new approach, carrying the breath of modern life, but of course still on the foundation of old values. That old value, to me, is the great art and culture of Russia", Ms. Nhu Ngoc did not hide her emotion and love when talking about Russia.

The story continues with the scene of winter days in Russia with white snow falling. At that time, 19-year-old student Nhu Ngoc got up early in the morning to go to the flea market or lining up at discount stores to search for vinyl records - mostly Russian music records, from the famous Russian record label Melodia at that time. Rarely, there were European and American music records.

“The day I "hunted" for unique items at low prices, I was happier than winning the lottery!” Ngoc said. When she returned to the homeland, many people have completely abandoned or forgotten the hobby of listening to vinyl records because it is too much work, but Ngoc still cherishes the number of records she had during her time in Russia. Although not many, it is a part of her youthful memories that she is determined to preserve.

“Just lower the needle to let the vinyl record spin, the old melody sounds and a whole world of memories come flooding back. Nowadays, it is not too difficult to surf the online market to find old vinyl records, so the current collection of vinyl records is gradually filling up. Sometimes I see on the website an advertisement for a vinyl record from the time I was in Russia, I have seen it but have not been able to buy it, now after decades I finally own it, holding the vinyl cover with a little wear on the corner, my heart is indescribably moved”, Ms. Ngoc expressed her emotions.

In addition to the hobby of listening to vinyl records that she has maintained since her time in Russia until now, she also loves the past and present Russian cinema. At that time, students and interns like her were lucky to enjoy and listen to Russian teachers analyze classic films such as ‘Song of the Soldier’ and ‘Here the Dawn is Quiet’ to appreciate the beauty of the ‘Russian character’ as an eternal value.

“Those films are never boring to watch over and over. Even at each stage and age in life, the more we watch them, the more we appreciate them. Fortunately, social networks now help us connect with groups of similar interests faster than ever, so she can easily watch classic Russian films from Mosfilm, post-Soviet films and even modern Russian films. Each film genre gives viewers interesting feelings, understanding and comparisons, and most importantly, we realise that we are so happy because we share a common love deep in our souls: love for Russian culture and art.”, said Ngoc.

For director and filmmaker Tra Xuan Phuong, the Chairman of the Da Nang Cinema Association, he still wonders why a strange country with people whose bloodlines and skin colours were different from his has left him with so many profound memories. In the memory of director and filmmaker Tra Xuan Phuong, he and his friends have had many close memories, together going through the loving days of studying in this country, and today still consider each other as a family.

In July 2018, director and filmmaker Tra Xuan Phuong and his friends returned to visit their old school. “It was a feeling of touching happiness when walking on the old roads again. The small roads were filled with sea breeze and flowers, and ancient houses under the shade of green trees. Or simply the anchor at the port, when we remember, we still sing the melody of ‘Chieu Hai Cang’ of the old years”, director Tra Xuan Phuong recounted.

There is a palpable difference in the spirit and daily life of those who have been attached to beautiful Russia. It seems that the love for Russia has become a way of life, nurtured to create a very unique flow for those who have lived and studied in Russia. Therefore, Russia is not only the cradle of training for generations of overseas students such as director and filmmaker Tra Xuan Phuong or many generations of Vietnamese intellectuals, but also fosters a noble spirit of revolutionary heroism.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by A.THU