Vietnam builds statues to honor Soviet, Cuban, Chinese military experts and Lao and Cambodian soldiers

On the morning of August 29, the Ministry of National Defense organized the installation of plaques for the statues of Soviet and Cuban military experts; and placed symbolic stones for the statues of Chinese military experts and Lao and Cambodian international soldiers.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense , and Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes pulled the red scarf to inaugurate the statue of Cuban military experts. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The complex is located at the Vietnam Military History Museum (Xuan Phuong Ward, Hanoi). Attending the event were Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van; representatives of embassies and military attachés from Russia, Belarus, China, Cuba, Laos and Cambodia.

The organization of the installation of plaques at the statues of Soviet and Cuban military experts and the laying of symbolic stones at the statues of Chinese military experts and Lao and Cambodian international soldiers aims to acknowledge and express gratitude for the support and assistance of international friends to the cause of national liberation, national reunification and protection of the Vietnamese Fatherland.

Delegates inaugurated a cluster of statues to pay tribute to Soviet military experts. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The complex of works has profound historical, cultural and political values, vividly expressing the pure, loyal and affectionate international solidarity; demonstrating the great sacrifices and contributions of international friends to the cause of national liberation, national reunification and protection of the Fatherland of Vietnam.

The area symbolizing international solidarity, friendship and gratitude is deployed in the outdoor exhibition space of the Vietnam Military History Museum, with a scale of 5 clusters of symbols of the countries: Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Laos and Cambodia. Each cluster of statues includes a group of full-body statues of 3 to 5 characters; about 3m high (including the square pedestal of 4m x 4m, nearly 1m high), made of red bronze.

Delegates perform the symbolic stone-laying ceremony for the statue of Chinese military experts. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The architectural space of the statue cluster has synchronous technical infrastructure (yard, road, statue platform, electricity supply, water supply and drainage, trees, grass), combined with lighting system, on a total area of ​​about ^3,600m2 .

Each group of statues was created taking into account the historical factors of the contributions and support of countries in Vietnam's resistance wars. The statues were researched and created by prestigious Vietnamese artisans and sculptors; the process involved coordination and consultation with countries before being completed and approved by the art council in accordance with procedures and regulations.

Delegates perform the ceremony of laying the symbolic stone of the statue of Lao international soldiers. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

After 45 days of urgent and simultaneous implementation, the entire infrastructure, pedestal landscape and 2 statue clusters of the Soviet Union and Cuba have been completed, ensuring absolute safety, meeting requirements on quality, technique, aesthetics and progress.

The Chinese, Lao and Cambodian statue clusters are being actively implemented by the Project Management Board, striving to complete all of them before December 22, 2025.

Delegates perform the ceremony of laying the symbolic stone of the statue cluster of Cambodian international soldiers. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Vietnam appreciates and is grateful for the great support of international friends.

Speaking at the program, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, said the ceremony took place in the heroic and sacred atmosphere of the historic Autumn days, when the entire Party and the entire Vietnamese nation were looking forward to the great holiday, the 80th anniversary of National Day.

The Deputy Minister of National Defense stated that throughout the history of the resistance war for national independence and reunification, the Vietnamese people have always received the sincere, loyal and effective help of countries and international friends, especially China, the Soviet Union, Cuba, Laos and Cambodia - comrades and friends who have spared no effort, wealth and even blood for the independence and peace of Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of National Defense, speaks. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

That support is not only a great material resource, but also a priceless source of spiritual encouragement, contributing to the great victory of the Vietnamese revolution. In every battle, every route, every glorious page of the history of the Vietnam People's Army, there is always a strong mark of noble international sentiment.

With the tradition of drinking water and remembering its source, implementing the Party and State's policy on building a symbolic area to acknowledge the valuable assistance of countries in Vietnam's resistance wars, the Central Military Commission - Ministry of National Defense has directed agencies and units to urgently deploy the construction of a symbolic area of ​​solidarity, friendship and international gratitude at the outdoor exhibition space of the Vietnam Military History Museum.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that this is a project with profound historical, cultural and political values, a vivid symbol of the spirit of pure international solidarity, loyalty and affection. At the same time, it is a testament to the great sacrifices and contributions of international friends to the cause of national liberation, national reunification and protection of the Vietnamese Fatherland.

This will be a red address for propaganda and education for today's and future generations to better understand the power of noble international solidarity, of "sharing hardships and joys" for independence, freedom, peace and friendship.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien talks with Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko . (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The Deputy Minister shared that Vietnam also wants to send a message to international friends that Vietnam always appreciates and is grateful for the great support of international friends not only in the past, but also in the present and the future; always attaches importance to preserving, consolidating and developing friendly relations with fraternal countries and international friends for a world of peace, cooperation and sustainable development.

Although the implementation time was very short, under the strong leadership and direction of the Politburo and the Secretariat, with the high political determination of the Ministry of National Defense, the close coordination of foreign diplomatic agencies, the proactiveness, positivity and responsibility of agencies and units, the task was carried out with the spirit of "overcoming the sun, overcoming the rain, 3 shifts, 4 shifts" so that today is the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day.

We have completed step 1 of the project and solemnly organized the installation of plaques for 2 clusters of statues in gratitude to Soviet and Cuban military experts; and the laying of symbolic stones for 3 clusters of statues in gratitude to Chinese military experts and international soldiers from Laos and Cambodia.

The Ministry of National Defense leader said that the area symbolizing international solidarity, friendship and gratitude will continue to carry out construction of statues of Chinese military experts and international soldiers from Laos and Cambodia.

He believes that when completed in December 2025, on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, the international gratitude statues will not only be works of art and historical and cultural highlights, but also a place to spread noble values ​​of gratitude, sacrifice, and the spirit of solidarity and friendship with international friends...

Memories of common history

Speaking at the ceremony, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko expressed his honor to be present at the solemn inauguration ceremony of the monument commemorating foreign military experts, including those from the former Soviet Union, who helped the Vietnamese people during the difficult years of the struggle for independence and freedom.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Stepanovich Bezdetko speaks. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

"The Soviet Union was one of the first countries to officially recognize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in January 1950 and provided great assistance to the Vietnamese people in their fight against foreign invasion.

That assistance included the large-scale provision of the most modern military products at that time, from anti-aircraft artillery positions, armored vehicles, air force, infantry weapons and many other types of equipment as well as training military officers for Vietnam. In a short time, training of officers and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army to use advanced weapons was deployed, and Vietnamese soldiers and officers excellently acquired knowledge, effectively applying it to combat practice," said the Ambassador.

The Russian Ambassador thanked Vietnam for preserving the memories of the common history that has now become distant and of the people who stood at the beginning of that history. This is a convincing proof of the sincere friendship and high trust between Russia - the successor state of the Soviet Union - and Vietnam. At the same time, continuing the fine tradition of selfless help and mutual support in difficult times, educating the younger generation to appreciate the contributions of their ancestors who brought a peaceful and happy life to their descendants.

Delegates attending the ceremony. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Meanwhile, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes said that the inauguration of the statue cluster is a tribute to Cuban soldiers who fought side by side with the Vietnamese army and people in the heroic resistance war.

The fact that Cuban volunteer soldiers shared experiences, fought and participated in activities in units of the Vietnam People's Army has contributed to enriching the defense strategy of the two countries, "that is people's war".

During the course of their missions, many Cuban soldiers heroically sacrificed their lives. This proud legacy has fostered the good defense cooperation between Cuba and Vietnam to this day.

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

The Ambassador said that this is a tribute to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Ruz, who once affirmed: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its own blood", connecting the deep brotherhood between the two peoples.

He expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense for its noble gesture, contributing to spreading the will of a nation thousands of miles away, following the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: "Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom."

The Ambassador also recalled the words of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro in the Quang Tri Liberated Zone in September 1973: “One thousand years, two thousand years, five thousand years, ten thousand years will pass, but future generations will always remember the heroism of the Vietnamese people.”

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-xay-dung-cum-tuong-tri-an-cac-chuyen-gia-quan-su-lien-xo-cuba-trung-quoc-va-chien-si-lao-camuchia-325992.html