The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia on July 19 hosted a meeting to mark the 30 th anniversary of the Vietnam-Soviet Union aerospace flight (July 23) – an event that symbolises the 60-year friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

The nine-day flight into orbit has become a historic event for the Vietnamese people and a glorious symbol for the 60-year-long traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia , Ambassador Bui Dinh Dinh said.

Vietnamese hero cosmonaut Pham Tuan and Soviet spaceman Victor V. Gorbatko were sent into orbit in the “Union-37” spaceship from the Bykonur airbase in the former Soviet Union on July 23, 1980 and stayed in space for nine days to carry out scientific studies.

Thanks to the Soviet Union’s help, Vietnam became the first country in Asia to conquer the universe. With this success, the Vietnamese people had realised the dream of late President Ho Chi Minh that “One day, the Vietnamese can fly into space”, he said.

Gorbatko spoke to those attending the ceremony of the days when he and the Vietnamese astronaut practised before flying into space and their working time together on the spacecraft.

He expressed delight at the enormous achievements in all areas that Vietnam has attained during its national reconstruction in peace and on its way to socialism.

Russian participants praised Vietnam for its achievements and wished the country greater successes in the future, including breakthroughs in scientific and technological study and aerospace exploration./.