On July 22 the first Russian Center of the Russkiy Mir Foundation in Vietnam opened in the capital city of Hanoi. Earlier we spoke with Professor Nguyen Trong Do, rector of the International School at Vietnam National University, about this event and the situation with Russian studies in Vietnam.

– What is the situation with Russian language studies in Vietnam?

– The International School at Vietnam National University has a successful Russian language department. We have five highly qualified Russian teachers. The department is headed by the world-renowned Russian-language specialist Tuet Min. Currently 170 students study in the department. They not only study Russian as a foreign language, but all courses are taught in Russian. Specialties include accounting, economic analysis, audit, etc. The courses are not free, and despite the rather expensive cost for Vietnamese, the number of students seeking to receive their education in the Russian language has been growing with each passing year. This is due to the fact that mastery of the Russian language gives graduates the assurance that they will be able to find a prestigious and high paying job.

– Do you train Russian teachers?

– Yes, we do, but I should add that they study separately at Vietnam National University, and there the competition for spots in the Russian language and literature section is growing from year to year.

Returning to your question about the situation with Russian language studies in Vietnam, I would point out that peak interest in Russian language in Vietnam came in the 1970s and 1980s. Russian was taught in public schools as a mandatory language, and many Vietnamese specialists received their professional education in your country. But then the collapse of the USSR had a major impact on interest toward Russian language in Vietnam.

However the situation is improve with each passing year. This is a result of course of the expansion of economic cooperation between our countries, particularly in the energy sector. Russian and Vietnamese specialists are currently building electric power plants, nuclear power stations, oil refineries and the underground transit system in Hanoi. We are counting on further expansion of economic cooperation and an inflow of Russian investment into our country. I hope that the upcoming visit of Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in the second half of July will serve as a stimulus for the development and strengthening of our political and economic relations as well as cultural ties.

The visit of Minister Lavrov coincides with the opening of the first Russian Center of the Russkiy Mir Foundation in Vietnam at the International School of Vietnam National University. We hope that Mr. Lavrov will find the time to participate in the opening ceremony of the Russian Center, and we anxious to see the high-level delegation of Russian guests.

 – What will the Russian Center be involved in apart from the promotion of the Russian language and support of language study programs?

– We have big plans for holding all sorts of cultural and educational events at the Russian Center. I am sure that in addition to teachers and students of our university, the center will be visited by friends of Russian in Vietnam, and this includes approximately 30,000 people who have graduated from Russian universities over the years and worked in your country. And these are not just formal words. At the Russian Center anyone who wants to will have the opportunity to communicate and receive information about modern Russia, read Russian books, watch films in Russian and use Russian Internet resources. Those who have studied and worked in Russia over the years retain a lively interest in what is happening in Russia, in Russian culture, traditions. They have good memories about your country. I am confident that those who love Russia will come to the Russian center, and it will become a real cultural outpost of Russia in Vietnam.

– You speak Russian splendidly. Where did you study the Russian language?

– First, at school, starting in the fifth grade, and then at Leningrad Hertzen Pedagogical Institute. I continued my education in Moscow at the Pushkin State Institute of Russian Language. My mentor was the remarkable academic and teacher and kindest person Vitaly Kostomarov, who I know is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Russkiy Mir Foundation.

– Is it difficult for Vietnamese to study the Russian language?

– You have hit upon a sore spot. It is very complicated. Our languages, from the point of view of linguistics, orthoepy, grammatical norms and much more, are very far apart. Vietnamese joke that Russian grammar is worse than a storm and a typhoon. But this joke is partially true. As a Russian specialist, I believe that the popularization and promotion of the Russian language in Vietnam is not happening actively enough, but the outlook gives me optimism. There is no doubt that expanding economic ties, bilateral cultural exchanges and rapidly developing tourism will provide a real catalyst for the study of Russian language in Vietnam.

Vietnamese and Russians, regardless of the political environment, are bound by friendly ties. My teacher Vitaly Kostomarov told us that friendship between peoples is an abstract concept, but friendship between specific people is an undisputed and invaluable fact. I am sure that the Russian Center’s activities will facilitate not only the popularization of the Russian language and culture but also strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between people in Vietnam and Russia.