St Petersburg University publishes a new edition of the scientific work of the first president of Vietnam to mark the 135th anniversary of Hồ Chí Minh

The new edition of ‘Sun Tzu’s Laws of War. 1945—1946’ is published by St Petersburg University Publishing House to mark the 135th anniversary of Hồ Chí Minh, the first president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The translation is made by Vladimir Kolotov, Director of the Hồ Chí Minh Institute at St Petersburg University and Head of the Department of History of the Far East Countries at St Petersburg University. The preface to the publication is prepared by Dang Minh Khoi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Russian Federation.

Hồ Chí Minh was born on 19 May 1890. This day is a public holiday in Vietnam.

The book is a commented translation of one of the most important sources on the military strategy of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. It is a profound and creative approach to the classic treatise ‘The Art of War’ by the Chinese commander and strategist Sun Tzu. Both its editions in 1945 and 1946 had a considerable influence on the development of the methodology for seizing power and the military strategy of the Vietnamese People’s Army during the First Indochina War (1946-1954). Hồ Chí Minh’s works played the role of a strategic compass for the Vietnamese victory in the Indochina Wars.

‘This is the first bilingual publication of the complete cycle of Hồ Chí Minh’s works on military strategy with detailed comments. This source has never been translated into foreign languages, and the translation into Russian is the first. The St Petersburg University Publishing House solved a rather complex task by creating a layout with parallel texts, which makes it possible to immediately read the text in both Vietnamese and Russian to compare the original and the translation,’ explained Vladimir Kolotov, Director of the Hồ Chí Minh Institute at St Petersburg University.

In May 2023, the album was presented by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University and University graduate, to Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

SPbU alumni Dmitry Medvedev's official Telegram channel is also available in English.

The Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam placed books from the St Petersburg University Publishing House in the central part of the exhibition of Russian books about Vietnam to mark the visit of the country’s top official. The publications from St Petersburg University attracted great interest from the expert community. Russian and Vietnamese participants in the meeting noted the high scientific value and relevance of the publications, the originality of the layout and the printing quality. After the presentation, Vladimir Kolotov presented the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with several copies of the book ‘Sun Tzu’s Laws of War. 1945-1946’.

The Director of the Hồ Chí Minh Institute at St Petersburg University also took part in negotiations with Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO). During the conversation, it was noted that the delegation of St Petersburg University is expected to take part in the first Vietnam-Russia Forum, which will be held in Vietnam in September 2025 to give the highest state award to the Rector of St Petersburg University by the Chairman of the National Assembly.

Teaching of the Vietnamese language in Russia and Europe was first started at St Petersburg University. Supporting traditions, St Petersburg University continues to prepare high-calibre specialists with knowledge of the language, history, and culture of Vietnam. For 15 years, the world’s first Hồ Chí Minh Institute, opened at St Petersburg University, has been conducting research aimed at studying the current problems of not only Vietnam, but also the security of key regions of Eurasia and promotes economic, political, research, and educational cooperation between the countries. In 2023, the University was awarded the Order of Friendship of Vietnam, i.e. the highest award for international organisations.

During a working meeting with the Hồ Chí Minh National Political Academy, an agreement was reached to hold an online conference in Vietnamese on 19 May to mark the 15th anniversary of the Hồ Chí Minh Institute at St Petersburg University and the 135th anniversary of Hồ Chí Minh, dedicated to the spiritual heritage of the first president of Vietnam. During the event, new publications will be presented and plans for the development of research and educational cooperation will be discussed. Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), expressed a desire to join the conference.