(VOVworld) – An array of cultural and tourism activities have been held in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province on the first days of the New Year. In Cam Ranh peninsula, the provincial Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association laid wreaths at the memorial monument of Russian and Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives for peace.

The 21-meter-high monument, inaugurated in 2009, is engraved with the names of 44 Russian soldiers and 176 Vietnamese soldiers died while fighting in central Vietnam to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ly Ba Lin, President of the Khanh Hoa provincial Union of Friendship Organizations, said: “We always pay floral tribute to the soldiers on the first days of the New Year to honor their sacrifices for the homeland. This activity also helps to strengthen relations between Vietnam and Russia. The monument is also a place to visit for Russian tourists.”

Several cultural, entertaining, and religious activities have also been held in Can Tho city.