Journalist Vu Van Au and his strong relationship with the land and people of Cuba

Vietnam News Agency introduces the story of a journalist over 90 years old who spent all the money from the Vietnamese-Spanish dictionary he compiled to support his close Cuban friends.

Journalist and translator Vu Van Au, former staff member of Vietnam News Agency, and the Vietnamese-Spanish Dictionary compiled by him. Photo: Mai Phuong/VNA

On the occasion of the Summary of the 65-year Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Program, a program that took place in a very short time (65 days from August 13 to October 16) but achieved impressive results: more than 537 billion VND to support the Cuban people, Vietnam News Agency introduces the story of a journalist over 90 years old who spent all the money from the Vietnamese - Spanish dictionary he compiled to support his close Cuban friends. So that we can feel and understand the great power of a Program that was inspired by the loyal friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

Journalism - enriching and deepening friendships

In a small house in lane 295 Bach Mai street ( Hanoi ), at the age of over 90, veteran journalist Vu Van Au, former reporter of Vietnam News Agency (VNA), first head of VNA's bureau in La Habana (Cuba), still maintains his hearty voice, gentle smile and deep affection for Cuba - the country where he spent many years of his youth studying and working.

Journalist Vu Van Au was among the first generation of Vietnamese officials to go to Cuba to study Spanish, at the request of President Fidel Castro during a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Culture Hoang Minh Giam in May 1961. After three years of studying at the University of Havana, in 1964, he returned to Vietnam, worked at the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and was assigned the task of preparing to establish a permanent VNA office in Cuba.

In November 1966, he returned to Havana and became the first head of the VNA's office in Cuba. On November 6, 1966, the first Vietnamese news bulletin from Havana was officially broadcast to Hanoi, marking the beginning of news cooperation between the two countries. During his 7 years working in Cuba, he made an important contribution to strengthening the Vietnam-Cuba friendship and promoting bilateral press cooperation.

Recalling the early days of establishing the branch, journalist Vu Van Au said: “In 1966, VNA and Prensa Latina News Agency officially established a cooperative relationship. Cuban colleagues offered to help us find a place to set up headquarters, means of transport and all necessary conditions for work. We refused because we understood their difficult situation, but we will never forget that goodwill.”

To support the VNA's news transmission in Havana, Cuban Minister of Communications Jesús Montané sent people to erect a standard antenna on the roof of the headquarters. Journalist Au recalled: "Later, when the radio station in Me Tri was hit by a bomb, the transmission of news encountered many obstacles. Cuba allowed Vietnamese reporters to enter the National Information Center to collect and transmit news. Thanks to that, information between the two countries has never been interrupted. Although this is a heavily guarded agency, Cuba is ready to support Vietnam."

His work in Cuba involved nights spent watching the news from Hanoi. At that time, due to the 12-hour time difference, evening in Vietnam was morning in Cuba. Whenever he heard news of a victory, he immediately translated it into Spanish and sent it to the Cuban radio station for rebroadcast. Those news, resounding in the skies of Havana, became a symbol of solidarity and shared pride between the two peoples.

Journalist Vu Van Au said: “My friend and I coordinated our news reporting very smoothly. Events about Vietnam, after being translated, were broadcast by our Cuban colleagues day and night. Almost all of Prensa Latina’s news reports had news about Vietnam.”

Not only stopping at news, many major newspapers such as Juventud Rebelde regularly published his articles to help Cuban people better understand the resistance war of Vietnam. Notably, Cuba was also the first country in the world to recognize the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and established the Committee for Solidarity with Vietnam, which initiated a widespread solidarity movement of the Cuban people for Vietnam.

He also attended many solidarity rallies where hundreds of Cubans held up banners reading “Long live Vietnam - Cuba solidarity”.

During 15 years of studying and working in Cuba, journalist Vu Van Au received sincere help from his colleagues in the neighboring country. He shared: “My Cuban friends showed me how to write articles suitable for Latin American readers, commented on each article and helped me perfect it before publishing. They showed me a pure international spirit and sincere feelings that are unmatched.”

Memories of meeting President Fidel Castro

Recalling his memories of his time working in Cuba, journalist Vu Van Au said that in October 1969, during a business trip at the height of the 10 million ton sugar production movement, he and reporter Vo Xuan Ca had the opportunity to meet President Fidel Castro.

That day, in the scorching heat of the Eastern region, hundreds of international journalists followed the Cuban leader to Oriente, a province in eastern Cuba, where the Moncada barracks were located, which Fidel and more than a hundred of his comrades attacked on July 26, 1953. Here, Fidel did not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and join the workers in cutting sugarcane in the middle of the field. During a break, President Fidel personally invited two Vietnamese reporters to come over and talk.

Journalist Vu Van Au shared: “President Fidel invited us to eat sugarcane, asked about each person’s situation, and asked about Vietnam. That moment was recorded by a Cuban reporter and it was more than a month later that we received the photo. Each person had their own photo, signed by President Fidel on the front, with the date clearly written. Holding the photo in my hand, I felt not only the respect of a leader for his Vietnamese friends, but also the warm affection of the Cuban people. That was one of the most memorable moments in my career as a journalist.”

“The warm support that the Cuban people have given us during our working days here is truly wonderful. They consider us as brothers with the same ideals, always willing to share everything from meals, accommodation to the smallest conditions in life and work. It is not because we are more outstanding than anyone else, but it is a privilege that comes from the deep friendship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Cuba. Without that close affection, trust and appreciation, Vietnamese reporters living abroad like us certainly would not have received such help, sharing and warm treatment from the Cuban people, who always have special, loyal and steadfast feelings for Vietnam,” he said emotionally.

Spend 20 years compiling a dictionary

In 1996, journalist Vu Van Au finished his last term in Havana and retired. He was awarded the Felix Elmuza Medal by the Cuban Journalists Association for the first time, in recognition of his contributions during his 12 years of work in the island nation. On the same occasion, the Prensa Latina news agency also awarded him a Certificate of Merit in recognition of his contributions to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two news agencies.

After retiring, realizing that his children and friends' need to learn Spanish was lacking in materials, he began compiling the Vietnamese-Spanish Dictionary based on the Vietnamese-French Dictionary of Nguyen Lan and Le Kha Ke, and also referring to the French dictionary Larousse.

The first Vietnamese - Spanish Dictionary in Vietnam was printed and released by the University Publishing House in December 2022. He was awarded the Felix Elmuza Medal by the Cuban Journalists Association, for the second time, in recognition of his contributions during more than 12 years as a VNA reporter in this island nation.

In the preface, he wrote: "Due to the urgent need for family and friends to learn and use Spanish, and the need to wait for a "standard" Vietnamese-Spanish dictionary, which is not known when it will be available, I have compiled this dictionary. I will send it to everyone for free as far as I can translate it, hoping to receive comments to make the book richer and more complete."

Of the 136 million VND in royalties, he used 36 million VND to thank those who helped him make the dictionary because for him, the principle of "When drinking water, remember its source" is not only a teaching but also a principle of life.

To share with the Cuban people after the oil tank fire at the industrial park near Matanzas Bay in August 2022, journalist Vu Van Au donated 100 million VND through the Vietnamese Alumni Club in Cuba.

Mr. Au confided: “Although no one asked me, I always feel a great debt to Cuba - the country that opened its arms and helped me from the first days I set foot in this country. I always tell myself that I have to be responsible, to know how to repay some of the affection and care that the Cuban people have given me. Whenever possible, whether it is a big or small matter, I am ready to devote all my strength to fulfill the responsibility of a friend, a person who has been attached to and loved this brotherly country.”

During the dictionary launch in Havana in 2023, he was honored by the Cuban Journalists Association and awarded the Felix Elmuza Medal for the second time. Although he is 93 years old, he still actively participates in friendly activities with Cuba, maintains the habit of opening the Granma newspaper, updating the news of the place he considers his "second homeland".

During his career, journalist Vu Van Au had the honor of interpreting for leaders Ho Chi Minh , Fidel Castro and famous people such as the Vietnamese hero Nup, the international soldier Che Guevara and many other leaders. Up to now, despite his old age, Mr. Vu Van Au still actively participates in activities to strengthen and promote the special friendship, solidarity and brotherhood between Vietnam and Cuba.

From those experiences, he always pondered the responsibility of each person in preserving and spreading the Vietnam - Cuba friendship: "I hope the younger generation will remember, cherish and preserve that sentiment. Even though each person only does a small thing, each action contributes to nurturing the special relationship that the people of the two countries have worked hard to build over the past 65 years."

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/nha-bao-vu-van-au-va-moi-duyen-ben-chat-voi-dat-nuoc-con-nguoi-cuba-20251018120144806.htm