More than 13 years since the first time she arrived in Hanoi, Director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Hanoi Natalia Valerievna Shafinskaya is still vibrating: “Hanoi is different today from over 10 years ago with new lifestyle trends.”

Director of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Hanoi, Natalia Valerievna Shafinskaya.

Feeling close to Vietnamese

Natalia's predestined relationship with Hanoi and Vietnam has originated for a long time. Natalia said that before starting to learn Vietnamese, she had an 11-year period of attachment to Chinese and she intended to continue in this language.

According to Russian tradition, working in certain country, the experts must understand and master the language of that country. But turning to the year of preparation for graduating from high school, Natalia's teacher advised and oriented her to choose to study Vietnamese, because the relationship between Vietnam and Russia has a long tradition, both countries are like brothers and have much potential to cooperate. “I especially like the pronunciation of Vietnamese, I don't know how to explain it, but I especially feel close to learning Vietnamese,” said Natalia.

One of the folks and proverbs of Vietnamese language left in Natalia deep impression: “When drinking water, think of its source.”

What makes her feel close is that both Russia and Vietnam have folk songs. The language has a similar meaning in meaning. “Vietnamese people use a lot of adjectives when communicating, which shows they are very emotional. Vietnamese people are also very smart and flexible in their work,” said Natalia.

Through the Lunar New Year, people can clearly see the tradition of “When drinking water, think of its source” of the Vietnamese people. The community of Vietnamese people in Russia or many other countries still try to return to their families on this occasion to reunite with their families during Tet holidays. - NataliaThe fate with the millenary city

Recalling in 2005, Natalia was a Russian student who came to Hanoi to practice Vietnamese and conduct Vietnamese studies. In 2010, when she was officially appointed to work in Vietnam, Natalia held many positions, including expert, interpreter, assistant director and staff in charge of education of the Russia Cultural Center. Until 2016, after 6 years working in Vietnam, she officially took the position of Director of the Russian Cultural Center.

What Natalia is impressed with Hanoi is the strong development, with many changes in infrastructure, information technology, lifestyle, etc. the people of the capital city still remember the source, respect previous generation as well as customs and habits.

"The first thing is the old streets, the second is human," said the director of the Russian Cultural Center. “I think that the fact that people still maintain the cultural features inherent in everyday behavior is one of the things that helps Hanoi retain its inherent tradition. Keeping the value of behavior in society is an important thing to help Hanoi retain its traditional culture,” said she.

According to Natalia, Russia and Vietnam have many similarities, from a long history, the people of both countries have experienced war, peace and development, so the people of Russia and Vietnam are also respectful to the past. The way of building relationships in society, appreciating affection, friendship ... that make the two peoples feel more and more affectionate to each other.

The director of the Russian Cultural Center also said that, for more than a decade, living and working in Vietnam, what makes her proud is being a group of the center's staff with deep affection and high responsibility in her work.

"Up to now, I have considered Vietnam my second home,” Natalia said. During her first years in Vietnam, she and her family often welcomed the Lunar New Year as Vietnamese people practically, bought and dug to decorate their homes, go out for a trip to Tet market and enjoy traditional food.

The Olympiad movement is a bright spot in the activities of the Russian Cultural Center. Accordingly, in 2018, through the Olympiad movement, 170 Vietnamese students won full scholarships to study in Russia (plus the stipend of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam). It is expected that in 2019, the Russian government would increase the number of scholarships to more than 960 students of Vietnam, under the agreement with the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, 200 students will be reserved for movement of Olympiad.

Hanoitimes