Journey to foster Vietnam - Venezuela friendship from the heart of Caracas

“The deepest impression I had from the first days of my assignment was the extremely special feelings, respect and admiration of key, high-ranking leaders, politicians and the Venezuelan people for President Ho Chi Minh…” Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My shared in an article commemorating the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic sector.

Foreign Minister Yvan Gil speaks at the 135th Birthday Anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh in Venezuela. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

The year 2025 marks an important historical milestone – the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnamese Diplomatic Service (August 28, 1945 – August 28, 2025). The past eight decades have been a glorious journey of Ho Chi Minh diplomacy – bravery, humanity, intelligence and for the people.

Across the five continents, diplomatic soldiers have been persistently preserving, cultivating and spreading the image of Vietnam as a country that loves peace , friendship, cooperation and development. During that journey, working in Venezuela - a land half a world away but full of affection for Vietnam - was a special experience, where I and the Vietnamese Representative Office had the opportunity to continue the tradition and write new pages for the Vietnam - Venezuela friendship.

Heart to heart diplomacy

On that basis, over the past two years, the Vietnamese Representative Office in Venezuela has proactively promoted a series of activities to further connect the people of the two countries. Seminars on Ho Chi Minh Thought were held at major universities in Venezuela; photo exhibitions on the country, people of Vietnam and its achievements in innovation were brought to many states, beyond the capital. In particular, the agricultural cooperation project continued to be maintained and expanded, not only contributing to ensuring food security for local people but also becoming a "brand" of sincere and effective friendship between the two peoples.

In addition to the political-diplomatic channel, we always attach importance to the people-to-people diplomacy channel. The representative office has coordinated with the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship House, with groups of intellectuals, journalists, and local artists to organize cultural, artistic, and culinary activities, thereby bringing the image of Vietnam closer to the daily life of the Venezuelan people. Each story, each dish, each photo displayed is a "bridge" for the people of the two countries to understand and connect more.

Continuing tradition, expanding cooperation

The Vietnam-Venezuela friendship has been built, preserved and developed by generations of leaders and people of the two countries over the past three decades, but the special mark stems from the noble gesture that Latin American countries, including Venezuela, gave Vietnam during the years of fighting for national liberation and reunification.

For Venezuela, the memory of aid shipments and the steadfast support for the just struggle of the Vietnamese people remains valuable. We always reiterate this as a way of expressing gratitude, while affirming that Vietnam consistently values ​​this relationship.

Over the past two years, in the context of many fluctuations in the regional and global situation, we have maintained high-level visits and contacts, closely coordinated at multilateral forums, and expanded cooperation in potential areas such as agriculture, energy, education and training. Each contact is an opportunity for us to convey the message of a renewed, integrated Vietnam that is ready to cooperate for mutual development.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, Ambassador Vu Trung My and PSUV Vice President Eduardo Pinera sang the song "As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory" in the special art program "Forever Ho Chi Minh". (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

Image of Uncle Ho in the heart of Caracas

The deepest impression I had from the first days of taking up my assignment was the extremely special feelings, respect and admiration of key, high-ranking leaders, politicians and the Venezuelan people for President Ho Chi Minh. These deep but very close feelings were expressed through the way the late President Hugo Chavez, President of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking leaders and Venezuelan people referred to him as “Tio Ho” (Uncle Ho).

The image of President Ho Chi Minh is always present. On Simón Bolívar Avenue in the capital Caracas, the statue of Ho Chi Minh - the national liberation hero, an outstanding cultural figure of Vietnam, is solemnly present, demonstrating the prestige, stature as well as the respect and love of the Venezuelan people for him. Not only is it a symbolic work, the statue is also a meeting place for many generations of Venezuelan people, students, and mass organizations whenever they celebrate major holidays of Vietnam.

I have attended many solemn but warm ceremonies here, where children recited the poem “Prison Diary”, where veterans who had protested the Vietnam War held my hand tightly, repeating the slogan “Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh – Venezuela” with proud eyes.

That is a vivid proof of the spread of Ho Chi Minh's ideology - not only in Vietnam, but also in distant countries, where people still find in him a model of the will for independence, freedom and the desire for happiness.

The special art program "Forever Ho Chi Minh" was held at the Amador Bendayan National Theater with the participation of many leading artists and the Venezuelan National Symphony Orchestra. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

One of the most memorable memories for me and my colleagues at the Representative Office was the activities to celebrate the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh in May 2025. Through a series of events [1] with the theme "Remembering Uncle Ho" and especially the special art program "Forever Ho Chi Minh" [2], which had a profound ripple effect in the political world [3] and the people of Venezuela.

A special art program celebrating the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday was held on the evening of May 24, 2025 at the Amador Bendayan Theater in the heart of Caracas, where the melodies of revolutionary songs resounded like a call from the hearts of humanity for President Ho Chi Minh - the one who sowed the seeds of freedom not only for the Vietnamese people but also for progressive movements around the world.

The program, organized by the Embassy in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, touched thousands of hearts in the audience as well as millions of viewers who watched the program broadcast live in Venezuela and Latin America. Here, music was not only for art, but also for the people – where emotions and ideals met in songs that were revolutionary and imbued with the friendship between Vietnam and Venezuela.

The climax of the program was expressed in the resounding singing of the song “As if Uncle Ho were here on the day of great victory” when the entire auditorium, from the guests (PSUV Party Ideology Vice President Eduardo Pinera, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto...), artists and the audience sang together in choked emotion – as if Uncle Ho were among them, shining with a gentle smile and eyes full of faith in the future of humanity.

Those moments made me understand more deeply the meaning of diplomacy – not just the signed documents, but the connection from heart to heart, the trust, respect and long-term attachment between peoples.

The dance performance "Ho Chi Minh, the most beautiful name" in the special art program celebrating the 135th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh was held on the evening of May 24, 2025 at the Amador Bendayan Theater in the heart of Caracas. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela)

Looking back at 80 years of history of the Diplomatic Service, I am more and more aware that every foreign affairs officer, regardless of position or location, is contributing a small brick to build the common house of international friendship and cooperation. The two years in Venezuela were two years I lived and worked in an atmosphere filled with affection for Vietnam, a clear proof that the values ​​that President Ho Chi Minh left behind are still guiding the way for Vietnamese diplomacy today.

In the coming time, my colleagues and I will continue to make efforts to keep the flame of Vietnam - Venezuela friendship burning brightly, becoming an indispensable part of the overall picture of modern Vietnamese diplomacy: bravery, humanity, creativity, serving the Fatherland and serving the people.

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[1] Including: (i) Exhibition “Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh”, introducing the film “Ho Chi Minh, portrait of a man” on Venezuelan television; (ii) Talk at the youth cadre training school: Uncle Ho with the youth; (iii) Rally/discussion “The life and career of President Ho Chi Minh”.

[2] Held at the Amador Bendayan National Theater with the participation of many leading artists and the national symphony orchestra, including famous songs by Venezuelan People's Artist, Ali Primera, such as: "Forever Ho Chi Minh", Portrait of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese Woman and famous songs by world artists such as: Ho Chi Minh's Song, Right to Live in Peace...

[3] President Nicolas Maduro wrote on his personal Instagram page, highly appreciating the program.

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Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hanh-trinh-vun-dap-tinh-huu-nghi-viet-nam-venezuela-tu-trai-tim-caracas-325099.html