Cuba has always held a special place in the hearts of the Vietnamese people. As of 6 p.m. on August 18, more than 1.69 million people had donated over 332 billion VND (approximately USD 13.1 million) to support the Cuban people.

This figure is a powerful testament to the profound spirit of international solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba. It also represents an enormous source of encouragement and support for the Cuban people during this difficult time.

Having lived and worked in Cuba from 1970 to 1999 as a resident correspondent for the Vietnam News Agency in Havana over three terms, journalist Pham Dinh Loi witnessed countless expressions of love, respect, and genuine, selfless solidarity between the peoples of Vietnam and Cuba.

“We lived in Cuba during the most fervent period of solidarity with Vietnam. Solidarity organizations, women’s and youth associations, and even children and students organized learning sessions, discussions, and fundraising campaigns for Vietnam. There was a movement across Cuba to fully support Vietnam. We saw Cuban people joyfully celebrating Vietnam’s victory on April 30, 1975, as if it were their own national triumph,” Pham Dinh Loi recalled emotionally.

As a resident reporter, Pham Dinh Loi was deeply moved when translating statements by Fidel Castro, such as the iconic line: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood.” Or when expressing unwavering support for Vietnam during his visit to Poland in June 1972, Castro declared, “For the Cuban people, the most important issue now is Vietnam. Vietnam today is the highest test of proletarian internationalism and the principles of Marxism-Leninism.”

According to Pham Dinh Loi, in recent years, Cuba has faced growing challenges, many stemming from prolonged embargoes, with recovery relying heavily on external factors. Amid this situation, Vietnamese friendship organizations, mass unions, local authorities, and former Vietnamese students and workers in Cuba have organized numerous support campaigns.

Yet, never before has there been such a broad, impactful, and moving fundraising effort like this one. The campaign titled “65 years of Vietnam-Cuba friendship” is part of the “Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year 2025,” marking 65 years of diplomatic ties (1960-2025). It has evolved into a sweeping national movement, symbolizing profound solidarity and lasting bonds between the two nations.

Launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and led by the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the campaign has garnered overwhelming support from organizations and individuals both domestically and abroad. Initially aimed at raising USD 2.6 million, the campaign surpassed expectations just days into its 65-day timeline, with donations already reaching over USD 13.1 million.

This overwhelming support reflects the enduring spirit of mutual assistance and deep international friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Cuba. It is also a resounding source of encouragement for the Cuban people amid current hardships.

Pham Dinh Loi added that alongside this massive charitable movement, the Vietnamese Party and government have long assisted Cuba in food production, including rice, beans, coffee, aquaculture, and other fields.

“Our hope is that this campaign will not just result in millions of dollars raised, but become a historic milestone – a heartfelt testament to the enduring, faithful love the Vietnamese people have for Cuba. Every contribution, big or small, affirms an eternal truth: Cuba holds a very special place in every Vietnamese heart.”

The foundation of Vietnam-Cuba’s enduring solidarity

In 2025, Vietnam and Cuba commemorate 65 years of diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025). Leaders from both nations have agreed to name it the “Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year.”

According to Le Thanh Tung, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Cuba, this designation is typically reserved for truly exceptional bilateral relationships. The Vietnam-Cuba relationship indeed stands out on the global stage, built on a foundation of brotherhood, comprehensive cooperation, and mutual trust between their parties, states, and peoples.

He recounted that after diplomatic ties were established in December 1960, President Ho Chi Minh, with his keen insight, affirmed to Cuban delegations visiting the Democratic Republic of Vietnam that “though our countries are far apart, the Vietnamese and Cuban peoples are as close as family.” Sixty-five years of Vietnam-Cuba relations have indeed proven this prophetic observation.

“Most Vietnamese still remember the unwavering, enthusiastic support Cuba gave to Vietnam, summed up in the resounding words of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz at Revolution Square in Havana on January 2, 1966: ‘For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to shed its own blood.’ Cuba honored that pledge by providing spiritual and material support throughout Vietnam’s fight for national liberation and its postwar reconstruction,” said Le Thanh Tung.

Despite facing its own difficulties, including intense blockades and crises since entering its “Special Period” in the 1990s, Cuba continued its unwavering support. Vietnam, in return, upheld a steadfast principle: “Solidarity with Cuba is a command from the heart of every Vietnamese.”

With its long-standing traditions of solidarity and gratitude, the Vietnamese people have engaged in various public initiatives to support Cuba. This commitment, rooted in shared values, has remained strong through generations.

Over the decades, the Vietnam-Cuba relationship has only deepened, becoming a model of international relations. It has transcended formal diplomatic ties and become deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the two peoples, just as Ho Chi Minh foresaw more than 60 years ago.

Le Thanh Tung is among a select group of Vietnamese officials who studied in Cuba and later served as Vietnam’s ambassador there. His 2020-2023 term coincided with many major bilateral events, including cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He recounted that when Covid-19 struck Vietnam, just two days after a request via the Ministry of Defense, on March 29, 2020, Cuba’s Communist Party Politburo decided to gift Vietnam a batch of Interferon II medication, enough for 1,000 patients, and pledged to supply more if needed. On July 22, 2020, four top Cuban doctors flew to Vietnam aboard a citizen repatriation flight, immediately volunteering to serve in pandemic hotspots.

That same flight returned with tons of medical equipment donated by Vietnam. During the pandemic, Cuba provided 5 million doses of the Abdala vaccine, which were safely and effectively used in Vietnam. In April 2020, Vietnam reciprocated with a donation of 10,000 tons of rice to Cuba.

These gestures between two nations are a shining example of international camaraderie in times of crisis.

A nationwide campaign rooted in shared history and mutual love

On August 13, 2025, the launch of the Vietnam-Cuba solidarity campaign deeply moved former Ambassador Le Thanh Tung. He was especially touched by the enthusiastic support shown by Vietnamese citizens across the country and abroad.

He noted the symbolic timing of the launch: it coincided with the 99th birthday of the late Fidel Castro and occurred within the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year. He also praised the stirring speech by Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, who declared, “When Cuba is in difficulty, Vietnam cannot stand still.”

Public response across media platforms reflected profound, genuine admiration for the relationship between the two nations. These sentiments echo the unwavering support Cuba gave Vietnam during the 1960s and 1970s.

This campaign, organized by the Vietnam Red Cross Society, calls on citizens, officials, soldiers, organizations, businesses, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends to support Cuba. Running from August 13 to October 16, the 65-day effort aims to provide Cuba with medical supplies, essentials, and sustainable development support amid ongoing hardships caused by the pandemic, natural disasters, and embargoes.

“This is a profoundly meaningful humanitarian initiative that demonstrates the deep affection and enduring solidarity of the Vietnamese people for the Cuban people. It’s also an opportunity to express our gratitude for the noble support Cuba once gave us,” emphasized Nguyen Viet Thao, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

A powerful display of unity and gratitude

At a press conference on August 15, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes expressed deep appreciation to the Vietnamese people and institutions for organizing this campaign.

“We deeply value this initiative by the Vietnam Red Cross, with support from the Fatherland Front and other socio-political organizations. The friendship between the Cuban and Vietnamese people has been forged in shared struggles. The current wave of support from thousands of Vietnamese has exceeded our expectations,” said Ambassador Rogelio Polanco Fuentes.

He added that the impact goes beyond monetary donations; it is a profound spiritual support that sets an example for bilateral relations and international solidarity. The Cuban Embassy pledges to ensure all donations are used effectively to benefit the Cuban people.

“This achievement could not have happened without the special bond between our countries – a bond nurtured by President Fidel Castro and President Ho Chi Minh, and strengthened through generations. Cuba’s solidarity has long resided in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, now expressed through real actions to help a distant but cherished friend,” the Ambassador said.

On the evening of August 16, Vietnam time, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel shared a message on the social media platform X, recognizing the fundraising campaign.

“The outpouring of generosity from the Vietnamese people is not only an act of love but one for which we are deeply grateful. It is a gift of honor, coming from a heroic, hard-working nation that has risen from many wars and is now admired globally for its sustainable development,” he wrote.

Nhan Dan