Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association on the glorious journey of 75 years of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations

In 1950, the resistance war against French colonialism entered a new context, when the Vietnamese revolution had official relations with world revolutionary forces, including the Soviet Union and China. The Vietnam World Peace Protection Committee was established in the Viet Bac resistance base as the first people's foreign affairs organization, the predecessor of today's Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association, spoke at the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Meeting program to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Moncada fortress, July 26, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa).

During the glorious 75 years (1950-2025), the Union has had a system of friendship associations with peoples of countries around the world , operating very effectively as a direct heart-to-heart bridge between the Vietnamese people and friends around the world, bringing many noble hearts, practical acts of support, and strong gestures of solidarity with Vietnam in the war of national liberation and the construction of socialism; at the same time, contributing to building and strengthening friendship between nations in the new era.

Entering the 60s of the 20th century, the Vietnamese army and people entered the war against the invading American expeditionary force. People of countries fighting for national independence throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America soon raised a movement of solidarity and friendship with Vietnam, in many rich and vibrant forms.

On December 2, 1960, Cuba was the first Western Hemisphere country to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. In 1961, the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam was established, demonstrating strong and timely support in the context of our people entering the fierce stage of the resistance war against the US to save the country. From Havana Square to every factory and school, the spirit of "all for Vietnam" spread throughout the Caribbean island nation, leaving a deep impression in the hearts of the people of both countries.

In Vietnam, the birth of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (December 20, 1960) and many people's organizations that were members of the Front opened a period of vibrant and extensive activities of people's diplomacy. Besides people's diplomacy activities carried out by organizations of women, youth, students, workers, farmers, writers, journalists, teachers, Buddhists, Catholics..., specialized organizations of people's diplomacy appeared such as: the World Peace Protection Committee of South Vietnam, the Asia-Africa Solidarity Committee of South Vietnam, the People's Committee of South Vietnam in solidarity with the people of Latin America, the People's Committee of South Vietnam in solidarity with the people of the United States...

In the context of such vibrant people-to-people diplomacy activities, the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association was established in 1965. The Association actively organized many initiatives and propaganda activities about the war against American imperialism, liberating the South, and unifying the country to the Cuban people.

Also through this channel, the voice of the Vietnamese people reached the people of nearly 20 Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, the people of Asian and African countries and widely to the whole world thanks to Cuba's very effective radio, television, press and publishing system. On January 2, 1966, at a rally at José Martí Revolution Square in Havana, to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the success of the Cuban Revolution (January 1, 1959 - January 1, 1966) and to welcome the Asia - Africa - Latin America Solidarity Conference, leader Fidel Castro affirmed: "For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to sacrifice its blood!". These immortal words expressed the kinship, the spirit of sacrifice and sharing of the Cuban people towards their comrades and brothers in Vietnam, forever etching into time and space a great friendship in human history.

Not only the spirit, the peak of that solidarity was the historic visit in September 1973, when Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro came to Quang Tri. The image of a head of state, regardless of danger, going to the fierce battlefield to encourage our cadres, soldiers and people in the long march to liberate the nation and unify the country is an unforgettable memory of the Cuban comrade and brother in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the socialist bloc in Eastern Europe, Cuba fell into a serious economic and social crisis. In 1990, the economy grew by 2.6%; by 1993, GDP had decreased by 35% compared to 1989, foreign debt was about 11 billion USD, not including the 21.5 billion convertible ruble debt of Russia. In that situation, the Party, State and people of Vietnam gave Cuba sincere support, stemming from pure international sentiment, firmly supporting Cuba in the struggle to end the economic blockade and embargo. Many movements to support Cuba were launched with the participation of many classes of people such as 20,000 tons of rice, 5 million sets of paper and pens, 5,000 sets of clothes, one day's salary for civil servants... During the period 2002-2005, Vietnam provided aid to Cuba with a total budget of more than 50 million USD, including 4 projects on rice production, 3 projects on aquaculture planning and cultivation, 2 projects on corn and bean production.

2025 is the "Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Year", agreeing to coordinate in organizing practical activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025), strengthen information and propaganda about the significance and importance of the traditional solidarity, special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba; pay attention to nurturing and educating the young generation of the two countries to always cherish, preserve and further develop the special, exemplary and loyal relationship between the two peoples. The Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association has proactively advised leaders at all levels and actively participated in important activities.

President Luong Cuong and his wife, along with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his wife, viewed a photo exhibition marking the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic relations, September 1, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa).

On the afternoon of September 1, 2025, at Ho Guom Theater, Hanoi, President Luong Cuong and his wife, along with First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and his wife attended a solemn rally to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025).

The event was organized by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Public Security, the Vietnam News Agency, the Hoan Kiem Theater and the Embassy of Cuba in Vietnam. The President said that when Vietnam entered the period of renovation, Cuba made efforts to overcome the special period and carried out the process of updating the economic model, the two countries continued to help each other, sharing sweet rice and sugar grains. While Cuba gave Vietnam many valuable livestock and crop varieties, COVID-19 vaccines, Vietnam also actively supported Cuba in developing rice production, aquaculture, coffee development, etc. At the same time, the two countries also exchanged experiences and lessons on socio-economic development and national defense.

Recalling President Ho Chi Minh's words "Vietnam and Cuba, though far apart, are like brothers in the same family" and Fidel Castro's affirmation that "Vietnam-Cuba relations are a special, unprecedented relationship, a model of international relations", President Luong Cuong emphasized that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always cherish and remember the solidarity and wholehearted support of Cuba for Vietnam in the past struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as in the cause of building and defending the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam today. Vietnam has always attached special importance to its relations with Cuba, constantly consolidating, cultivating and developing the comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two countries, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in each region and in the world.

Delegates press the button to launch the Campaign to support the Cuban people with the theme "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship", on August 13, 2025 in Hanoi. (Photo: Vietnam Fatherland Front).

The Vietnam - Cuba relationship has been described with many beautiful adjectives, including the title of the Campaign to Support the Cuban People called "Vietnam - Cuba: 65 Years of Friendship" organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front from August 13, 2025 to October 16, 2025 with the goal of mobilizing resources to help the Cuban people overcome difficulties.

Just 30 hours after its launch, the Program received 65 billion VND - reaching the initial minimum target. After 48 hours, that number doubled: 130 billion VND. After nearly 3 days, the Program recorded 1 million donations, with a total value of more than 195 billion VND. After more than 3 weeks, there were more than 2 million participants, with a total value of over 400 billion VND, many times higher than the initial expectation. And by the end of October 16, the end of the Program, that number reached 615 billion VND, 9.5 times higher than the initial target.

Behind those numbers are millions of touching stories about the heart, affection, faith and character of Vietnam. Across the country, many creative ways and inspiring initiatives have emerged, from football tournaments, fundraising art performances, painting competitions, group fees on social networks, to small but emotional sums of money from the elderly, students, and workers. All are imbued with the message "Vietnam - Cuba: Forever side by side in challenges, sharing hardships, together towards a bright future", continuing and deepening the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source" of the Vietnamese people.

On September 1, 2025, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, under the witness of General Secretary To Lam and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Comrade Do Van Chien, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, presented nearly 385 billion VND (first installment) to the Cuban representative - a sacred moment, affirming the strength of the faithful friendship between the two nations. In particular, the "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship" program was highlighted in the Vietnam - Cuba Joint Statement, as a vivid demonstration of international solidarity, affirming the position, stature and profound humanitarian significance of the program as well as the role and prestige of Vietnam in global humanitarian diplomacy.

The impact of the Program not only spread domestically but also resounded around the world. Thousands of news, articles, and reports in Vietnamese newspapers; tens of millions of interactions on social networks; and especially, Cuban media, from Granma, Prensa Latina, Cubadebate, to Cuban National Television, all reported prominently. The New York Times also called this "one of Vietnam's most moving international humanitarian campaigns".

In an interview with a reporter from the Voice of Vietnam, the Cuban Ambassador emotionally shared: “What impressed us was not only the amount of money raised, which reached the target in just a few hours, but more importantly, the great spiritual support. This will be an example for the relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, as well as for international relations between countries. Leader Fidel once said that Cuba was willing to sacrifice its blood for Vietnam, but in reality, it was Vietnam that shed its blood for the Cuban people and the world progressive movement. Nothing can measure Vietnam's contributions to the struggles for humanity.”

Within the framework of the Program, the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, the Vietnam Musicians Association, and the Literature and Arts Times jointly launched the songwriting campaign “Vietnam - Cuba: The song of solidarity and friendship forever echoes”. More than 140 works were sent from all over the country, deeply depicting the loyal and steadfast friendship, the belief in a bright future and the aspiration for peace and freedom of the two heroic nations as a beautiful harmony about the loyal friendship and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

The Organizing Committee awarded 1 First Prize, 2 Second Prizes, 3 Third Prizes, 10 Encouragement Prizes, along with 4 Dedication Prizes and 2 Companion Prizes to the authors participating in the composition campaign. 65 excellent songs were selected into the collection "Vietnam - Cuba: Forever the song of solidarity and friendship" which was solemnly presented by musician Do Hong Quan, President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, as a beautiful symbol of friendship and steadfast brotherhood between the two peoples.

The Campaign to Support the Cuban People has ended with the height of the Vietnam - Cuba humanitarian relationship, but the echo, strength and value of the loyal and pure love will last forever, as was very specifically shown in the Art Program to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic relations, held at the Opera House on the evening of October 24, 2025.

From the outstanding humanitarian foreign affairs activities recently organized in the Year of Friendship 2025, the people of Vietnam and Cuba have more valuable heritages on the great path to a prosperous, happy and prosperous future; at the same time, it is also a meaningful contribution of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association to the activities of consolidating and developing Vietnam's people-to-people foreign affairs on the threshold of the new era.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/hoi-huu-nghi-viet-nam-cuba-trong-hanh-trinh-ve-vang-75-nam-lien-hiep-cac-to-chuc-huu-nghi-viet-nam-217586.html