Sixty years ago, President Ho Chi Minh took the name of Soviet cosmonaut German Titov to name this island during his and Titov's visit to Ha Long Bay on January 22, 1962. Since then, the beautiful Titov Island has not only become an attractive tourist destination in the heart of the world natural heritage, but also a meaningful symbol, bearing the imprint of Vietnam - Russia friendship.
Titov Island (Photo: baoquangninh.com.vn)
At the invitation of President Ho Chi Minh, on January 21 and 22, 1962, German Titov visited Vietnam and Ha Long Bay. During this visit, President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people gave him a special welcome. President Ho Chi Minh awarded him the title of Vietnamese Labour Hero and accompanied him to many places, gave him best wishes and most sincere affection, including a trip to visit Ha Long Bay, to this beautiful island, and President Ho Chi Minh named the island Titov.
In 2013, the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee approved the construction of a half-body statue of German Titov on Titov Island. Quang Ninh Province actively coordinated and supported the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association to implement the project, which was completed in 2015.
There is a stone stele under the statue which is engraved on both sides. The front is engraved in Vietnamese, Russian and English with content about Uncle Ho naming the island Titov, the most important features about Titov.
On September 14, 2015, the inauguration ceremony of the statue took place solemnly in the presence of Titov's wife and daughter, Mrs. Tamara Titova and Tachiana Titova, Lieutenant General Pham Tuan, Hero of the People's Armed Forces and the first Vietnamese person to fly into space, and many guests.
This is a project of great significance, as well as the ideas and aspirations of thousands of members of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Association, in order to pay tribute to German Titov, the Soviet cosmonaut hero, Chairman of the Soviet - Vietnam Friendship Association from 1966-1991, Chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association from 1992-2000, both a symbol of the friendship between the two peoples and the deep affection between President Ho Chi Minh and hero German Titov, the one that made important contributions to the Vietnamese people's struggle for national liberation and unification, and fostered the special friendship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union as well as Russia today.
The statue of German Titov is placed in the most beautiful location of Titov Island, becoming a unique cultural, artistic and tourist product on Ha Long Bay, contributing to promoting the value of the world natural wonder Ha Long Bay with a large number of international tourists and friends./.
Compiled by BTA