Held to commemorate the first victory of Vietnam’s air defence forces over US aircraft on August 5, 1964, the annual gathering brought together former Soviet military advisers who had served in Vietnam during the war. Many are now in their 80s, yet their memories of standing alongside the Vietnamese people remain vivid.

Among them was Arseny Aleksandrovich Durkin, a former commander of an S-75 surface-to-air missile crew who served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. After spending many years in Russia's Arctic region, he attended the annual reunion for the first time since relocating to Moscow.

The event became even more meaningful when Durkin reunited with his former comrade Nikolai Nikolaevich, now chairman of the association of former Soviet military specialists who served in Vietnam, nearly six decades after they last met. Handshakes, shared memories and familiar Russian songs brought back recollections of a time when the two peoples stood together during the war.

According to Durkin's daughter, Elena, her father has always spoken warmly of the kindness shown by the Vietnamese people during the early days of the Soviet advisers' mission.

“They did not speak Vietnamese, yet local people were always ready to help through simple acts of kindness. Conditions were extremely difficult and the weather was unbearably hot, but everyone supported one another. The Vietnamese even made sure meals suited those who had come from the Soviet Union,” she said.

The gathering also reflected how Vietnam continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many Russians who did not experience the war themselves.

Prof. Dr. Sergey Nikolayevich Baburin, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Soviet Peace Foundation, said Vietnam's struggle for independence had inspired generations of Soviet citizens.

“Vietnam showed that a united people with determination could overcome even the greatest challenges. That was an important lesson for the Soviet people at the time,” he told those in attendance.

The shared memories are now being embraced by younger generations. Born and raised in Russia, Tran Thu Ngan, a student at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), performed Russian songs during the gathering. She shared that learning about history and preserving the friendship between the two nations was an important responsibility for young people.

“As a young Vietnamese, I am deeply grateful to the Soviet people for supporting Vietnam during the war. We should continue learning about our shared history, preserve this tradition and pass it on to future generations,” she said.

A representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia expressed profound gratitude to the former Soviet military advisers for their support during Vietnam's most difficult years, affirming that the Vietnamese people will always remember their contributions.

The embassy representative said that as the number of living witnesses to history continues to decline, preserving historical records, organising reunions and promoting exchanges between generations have become increasingly important in safeguarding Vietnam-Russia friendship.

More than six decades after the war, stories of solidarity between the peoples of Vietnam and Russia continue to be shared. From wartime veterans to today's younger generation, those shared memories remain one of the strongest foundations of the enduring friendship between the two countries.

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