Moscow, July 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: A square named after President Hồ Chí Minh was officially inaugurated in the Vyborg District of St. Petersburg, Russia, as part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia. The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of Madame Ngô Phương Ly, spouse of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.
The event, held in one of the Russian cities with the closest and most vibrant ties with Vietnam, was a significant symbol of the two nations’ enduring friendship and shared historical bonds.
During the ceremony, Madame Ngô Phương Ly and the Vietnamese delegation paid tribute to President Hồ Chí Minh — revered as a national liberation hero, a great man of culture, and a close friend of the Russian people. Participants, including senior Vietnamese and Russian officials, members of the Vietnamese community in Russia, and local citizens, laid flowers at a statue of President Hồ Chí Minh in the newly inaugurated square, expressing deep respect and admiration for the late Vietnamese leader.
In his address, Governor of St. Petersburg Aleksandr Beglov emphasized that the friendship between Vietnam and the Russian city is founded not only on economic collaboration but also on long-standing cultural and people-to-people ties. He noted that St. Petersburg had named Vietnam a priority partner in its foreign policy five years ago, and the inauguration of Hồ Chí Minh Square is a powerful symbol of this strategic orientation.
“Hồ Chí Minh Square serves as a lasting reminder of our shared history and an inspiration for future cooperation,” the governor remarked.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Đặng Minh Khôi, expressing his honor at attending the ceremony, extended gratitude to the St. Petersburg administration for dedicating the square to President Hồ Chí Minh. He highlighted the significance of unveiling the square during the commemoration of Hồ Chí Minh’s 135th birth anniversary and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Ambassador Khôi noted that St. Petersburg now hosts a comprehensive memorial complex dedicated to President Hồ Chí Minh. This includes the newly inaugurated square and statue, a street bearing his name since 1978, and a museum space at Secondary School No. 488 located nearby — all of which reflect the Russian people’s deep affection for the late Vietnamese leader and their respect for the traditional friendship between the two nations.
Following the inauguration, Madame Ly visited School No. 488, home to a prominent Hồ Chí Minh museum exhibit. On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, she presented the school with a bust of Hồ Chí Minh, a book titled “President Hồ Chí Minh and the Vietnam – Russia Friendship”, a model of the iconic stilt house where he lived and worked, and commemorative badges bearing his image.
Addressing students and teachers, Madame Ly encouraged academic excellence and praised the dedication of the faculty. She expressed hope that one day a school in St. Petersburg would bear the name of Hồ Chí Minh — the very city where he first arrived in Soviet Russia in 1923 during his revolutionary journey for national salvation.
On the same day, the Vietnamese People Association in St. Petersburg was officially granted legal status by city authorities. This milestone enhances the association’s role in the local community and marks a new chapter in fostering stronger ties between the two nations. A cooperation agreement was also signed to support Vietnamese citizens, preserve cultural identity, and promote the Vietnam–Russia relationship.
