On March 25, in Tomsk, Western Siberia, Russia, a Vietnamese Cultural Day was attended by approximately 600 people, including lecturers at the university, international students, and other local residents.

In his introductory speech, Artyom Rykun, the Vice Rector of International Affairs of the Tomsk State University (TSU), acknowledged the high academic dedication, deference towards instructors, and involvement in campus life by Vietnamese students. He praised their success in education and other extracurricular activities and said that the performances they were going to display were a bright example of the richness of the Vietnamese culture that was brought to the local population.

Svetlana Kurilo, a representative of the International Student Office of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), was also proud of Vietnamese students in terms of their competence, discipline and how they strive to learn the Russian language.

The event transformed the cultural centre of TSU into a lively Vietnamese cultural area that provided visitors with an immersive experience with three main sections of the cultural centre: a performance stage in the main hall, a Vietnamese cuisine corner, and a traditional folk games zone in a smaller auditorium.

The artistic programme offered an energetic panorama of Vietnamese culture, mixing the heritage with the modern expression. Viewers learned about the development of the ao dai (Vietnamese traditional garment) by watching the various historical eras of the dress, learned about the power and stamina of the Vietnamese by witnessing the strong martial arts acts, and experienced the youthful artistic creativity through modern dances.

Meanwhile, the food area was recreating the atmosphere of the Vietnamese family dinner with the traditional cuisine, and the folk games zone was the most popular one, with visitors eager to play the games, symbolising the regions of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese community of Tomsk is limited to some 60 individuals, but the event was a good and well-rounded cultural experience, and the community is highly unified and proud of its nationality. In addition to honouring the heritage, the festival was a cultural linkage between Vietnam and foreign friends in Western Siberia.