On the afternoon of August 14, Pham Manh Ha, a resident of Duong Noi, Hanoi, was surprised to receive more than a dozen consecutive messages from ABBank, notifying him that money had been deposited into his account with the note “Donation for Cuba.”

Speaking with VietNamNet, Ha recalled his confusion: “I didn’t understand what was happening at first. Only after a few minutes did I realize that many people had mistakenly transferred donations intended for the Cuban people into my account.”

The reason for the error lay in the account number. According to the official announcement, the donation campaign launched by the Vietnam Red Cross Society was receiving contributions through account number 2022 at the Military Bank (MB Bank). Coincidentally, Ha’s ABBank account also ends with the number 2022.

Ha said that as the mistaken transfers continued, he became increasingly concerned. By the morning of August 15, the total amount transferred to his account had exceeded 3 million VND (about 118 USD).

“I locked my account and went to ABBank’s Dong Da branch on Nguyen Luong Bang Street to ask for help returning the money to the rightful owners. Fortunately, the bank was very supportive. They are now assisting me in preparing transfer orders so the mistaken donors can resend their contributions to the official account designated by the Vietnam Fatherland Front for Cuba,” Ha explained. “Once the process is complete, I will notify everyone.”

The incident quickly spread across social media, attracting thousands of comments and shares. Many were astonished by the rare coincidence of two identical account numbers at different banks, while others praised Ha’s transparency and goodwill. Some jokingly referred to him as an “accidental philanthropist overnight,” while others reminded donors of the correct account details to prevent further errors.

From August 13 to October 16, the Vietnam Red Cross Society, in cooperation with partner organizations, is running a fundraising campaign for the Cuban people under the theme 65 Years of Vietnam-Cuba Solidarity. The initiative aims to strengthen the bond between the two nations and express gratitude for Cuba’s long-standing support for Vietnam.

Official donation details: Vietnam Red Cross Society, account number 2022, Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB Bank). Transfer content: “CUBA.”

According to the Red Cross, just 30 hours after launching, the campaign had already raised the minimum target of 65 billion VND (about 2.56 million USD), with contributions continuing to increase.

Vietnam and Cuba established diplomatic relations on December 2, 1960. During the war against the United States, Cuba provided Vietnam with vital aid in food, medicine, and other supplies. Today, Vietnam is Cuba’s second-largest Asian trade partner and the largest Asian investor in the country.

The image of Cuban leader Fidel Castro visiting liberated Quang Tri on September 16, 1973, and his declaration, “For Vietnam, Cuba is ready to shed its own blood,” remains a lasting symbol of solidarity and inspiration.

Y Nhuy