Earlier, on May 8, at a local remembrance ceremony that gathered thousands of people, the group placed flowers to pay respect to Russian soldiers and people who lost their lives during the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) and the Second World War (1939-1945).

Doan Phan Duy, a participant, said he was honoured to be among representatives of Vietnamese students of the Saint Petersburg University at the ceremony.

He said it was the first time he had attended the event, adding that it helps him understand more about Russia’s history and traditions related to the significant day.

There are currently about 50,000 Vietnamese people living and working in Russia.

Saint Petersburg was previously the Soviet city of Leningrad. The siege of Leningrad, a military blockade undertaken by the Nazis in the Second World War, lasted 900 days, during which Soviet soldiers fought to defend the city.

The campaign to free the city has become the biggest symbol of the fight between Nazi Germany and Soviet forces.-VNA