The cultural festival titled “Vietnam: Man and Country” transformed the cultural center of the Tomsk State University into a true Vietnamese enclave, structured around three thematic areas: the artistic stage, traditional cuisine, and popular games.
On March 25, the city of Tomsk, located in western Siberia over 3,500 kilometers from Moscow, vibrated to the rhythm of the cultural festival titled “Vietnam: Man and Country”.
Organized by the Union of Vietnamese Students in Tomsk, this event is part of the Month of Youth celebrations and the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Despite the region’s harsh climate, the event attracted nearly 600 spectators, including teachers, international students, and many local residents.
During his opening speech, Artyom Rykun, Vice-Rector for International Relations at Tomsk State University, praised the dedication, respect for teachers, enthusiasm, and dynamism of Vietnamese students. He emphasized that the quality of the performances presented was a worthy showcase of their country’s rich cultural heritage.
This sentiment was shared by Svetlana Kurilo, head of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), who expressed pride in Vietnamese students, particularly praising their abilities, good characters, eagerness to learn, and mastery of the Russian language.
The festival transformed the TSU cultural center into a true Vietnamese enclave, structured around three thematic areas: the artistic stage, traditional cuisine, and popular games.
The audience was able to discover a varied historical and cultural fresco, ranging from the Ao dai parade (traditional attire of Vietnamese women) through the ages to martial arts demonstrations, as well as modern choreographies full of energy.
In addition to the performances, the culinary stands offered a taste of Vietnamese family warmth, while traditional games from the North, Center, and South regions caused great excitement among participants.
The success of this event is all the more remarkable considering that the Vietnamese student community in Tomsk comprises only about sixty members. The active participation of the audience and the enthusiastic applause that ended the day testify to the powerful attraction of Vietnamese culture in Russia. More than just a celebration, this day served as a cultural bridge, strengthening friendship bonds between peoples and allowing young expatriates to express their patriotism and promote Vietnamese culture to international friends. – VNA/VI
