Vietnamese Citizens in Ukraine Supported During the Conflict
	Vietnamese Community In Odesa And Ukraine Celebrates President Ho’s Birthday

Within the framework of the concert celebrating the 79th anniversary of the National Day of Vietnam at the Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music in Kiev, the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine held a ceremony to award the Vietnam’s Friendship Medal to the late translator and poet Maya Dmitrievna Kashel.

The event aimed to honor her important contributions to the dissemination of Vietnamese literature in Ukraine, contributing to strengthening the friendship between the two countries.

The Friendship Medal was awarded based on the proposal of the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine and the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), with the desire to recognize the contributions of Maya Dmitrievna Kashel, who devoted her life to introducing Vietnamese literary works to Ukrainian readers.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach presents the Friendship Medal to the president of the Ukrainian Women's Union, vice president of the Ukraine-Vietnam Friendship Association. Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine

Maya Dmitrievna Kashel (1930 – 1987) was a famous Ukrainian translator, known for her deep love for Vietnamese literature. Despite the challenges posed by the Vietnam War, she embarked on a journey to learn Vietnamese and delve into Vietnamese literature.

Her passion led her to translate numerous Vietnamese literary works into Ukrainian, introducing Vietnamese culture to a wider audience. She later translated a collection of short stories by Vietnamese writers into Ukrainian, which was published in Hanoi. To improve her skills, she continued to study Vietnamese at the Lomonosov Moscow State University's Institute of Oriental Languages.

During her career, Kashel published 11 translated books, covering a variety of genres from poetry, short stories to novels. From September 1966 to June 1972, before publishing her first independent translated book, she translated more than 300 Vietnamese literary works. These works contributed to introducing Vietnamese stories and cultural values ​​to a large number of Ukrainian readers, creating a cultural bridge between the two countries.

Her meticulous attention to detail and deep respect for Vietnamese culture ensured that her translations accurately conveyed the original meaning and spirit of the works. Notable translations include "Mother away from home" by Nguyen Thi, "Dat rung phuong Nam" (Song of the South) by Doan Gioi, "Luc Van Tien" (The Tale of Luc Van Tien) by Nguyen Dinh Chieu.

Through the translation of Vietnamese literary works, Maya Kashel wishes to “strengthen the cultural relations between Ukraine and Vietnam, enriching her homeland’s literature with the best Vietnamese works”, according to Maya Kashel’s Application letter to the Ukrainian Writers’ Association. Photo: KT

Beyond her translation efforts, Kashel also contributed to the understanding of Vietnamese literature through her research articles that were published in major magazines in Ukraine. Her dedication to strengthening the cultural relationship between Ukraine and Vietnam was evident in her selfless actions, including donating all royalties from her translation work to the Vietnam People's Support Fund of Ukraine.

At the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach emphasized the role of the translation of “Luc Van Tien” – one of the classic works of Vietnamese literature that Kashel translated. The translation into Ukrainian is the first translation into a foreign language after Vietnam gained independence. This translation will continue to be republished in 2022 in Chernigiv, north of the capital Kiev.

"The values ​​promoted in the work "Luc Van Tien" such as bravery, kindness, honesty are very current and shared by Ukrainians," the diplomat said.

The translation of Luc Van Tien has created a great resonance and was adapted into a puppet show by Ukrainian artists, performed many times in cities such as Kiev, Odesa, Lvov and received the love of the public.

Speaking at the ceremony, Leokadia Gerasimenko, president of the Ukrainian Women's Union, vice president of the Ukraine-Vietnam Friendship Association, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the Vietnamese government's recognition of Maya Kashel.

Representing Kashel's family, Gerasimenko emphasized that the Friendship Medal was not only a personal honor but also a significant encouragement for continued efforts to strengthen the bonds between Ukraine and Vietnam.

Gerasimenko conveyed a message of enduring friendship and mutual respect between the two nations. She expressed hope that the Vietnamese and Ukrainian people would continue to cherish and support each other, fostering a lasting relationship built on understanding and solidarity.

Vietnamese Man Creates Savory Shawarma in the Heart of Hanoi Pham Trung Hieu's bakery on Giang Vo Street (Dong Da, Hanoi) attracts many customers due to its Shawarma - a popular food from the Middle ...

New "Vietnamese Corner" Brings Community Together in Odesa A grand inauguration ceremony for the "Goc Vietnam" (Vietnam Corner) was held in Ukraine on September 6.