The initiative was introduced during Vietnam Culture and Language Day recently held in St. Petersburg, as part of broader activities aimed at strengthening educational and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Russia.

Promoting Vietnamese knowledge globally

More than a symbolic book donation, the event underscored Vietnam Education Publishing House’s ambition to expand the global presence of Vietnamese knowledge and culture.

The donated collection includes Vietnamese-language books, publications on Vietnamese culture, history and geography, as well as children’s books carefully selected by the publisher.

The publisher also introduced Russian-language textbooks for grades 3 through 12, which it has organized and compiled for Vietnamese education programs.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pham Vinh Thai, editor-in-chief of Vietnam Education Publishing House, said the publisher’s mission extends beyond providing textbooks in Vietnam to connecting Vietnamese knowledge with the international community.

“The establishment of a Vietnamese Bookshelf at a prestigious cultural institution such as Herzen State Pedagogical University demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the position of Vietnamese education and publishing on the global map,” Thai said.

He added that the publisher is expanding strategic cooperation with the Russia-Vietnam Cultural Center beyond book displays to include seminars on educational reform, student exchanges, and promotion of Vietnamese literature to Russian readers.

Russian partners praise initiative

Representatives from Russian institutions and the diplomatic community welcomed the initiative and the contributions made by Vietnam Education Publishing House.

Vyacheslav Kalganov, deputy chairman of St. Petersburg’s Committee for External Relations, expressed appreciation to the publisher, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and the Vietnamese community for actively participating in Vietnam Week activities.

“These books are not only educational materials but also invaluable cultural bridges,” he said.

Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, first secretary at the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, said the inclusion of Vietnamese textbooks and teaching materials at the cultural center would strongly support Vietnamese language teaching and learning while helping preserve cultural identity among overseas Vietnamese youth and introducing Vietnam to Russian audiences.

Alexander Streltsov, vice rector of Herzen University, described the reception of the Vietnamese Bookshelf as an important event within activities commemorating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Vietnam.

Since its opening in July 2025, the Russia-Vietnam Cultural Center has become an important meeting point for cultural exchange, and cooperation with Vietnam Education Publishing House further strengthens the university’s role as a bridge for knowledge exchange, he said.

Long-term strategy for international expansion

Following the ceremony, the Vietnamese Bookshelf will serve students, lecturers and researchers studying Vietnam in Russia.

Students from institutions including Herzen State Pedagogical University, the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) and the Higher School of Economics (HSE) have already begun accessing the materials.

Vietnam Education Publishing House said the initiative forms part of its long-term strategy to establish itself not only as a domestic publisher but also as a reputable international partner in education and publishing.

The publisher said the project reflects a broader ambition to promote Vietnamese knowledge and cultural values internationally as relations between Vietnam and Russia deepen.

Beyond the books themselves, the Vietnamese Bookshelf at Herzen University symbolizes Vietnam’s aspiration to expand the global reach of its educational and cultural identity, the publisher said.

With initial cooperation agreements in place and the successful launch of the first Vietnamese Bookshelf in Russia, Vietnam Education Publishing House said it hopes to expand similar projects to more countries in the future.