Cuba and Vietnam: Two Hearts, One Heartbeat

Presidents Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Luong Cuong took part in the main event commemorating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Vietnam. The Ho Guom Theater was filled with friends of Cuba.

Photos by Alejandro Azcuy

By René Tamayo & Leticia Martínez, translated from the Spanish

HANOI - On Monday afternoon, the contemporary Ho Guom Theater, located in the heart of Hanoi, was bustling with friends of Cuba from all generations. This included elderly individuals who fought in the war against US occupation, workers, technicians, and specialists who received their education in Cuba, as well as young girls and boys who, despite their age, hold the Island of Solidarity dear to their hearts.

Hanoi, like the whole of Vietnam, is celebrating these days. Every street, square, park, factory, and shop is decorated with rows of national flags featuring a red background with a yellow star, alongside red flags displaying the hammer and sickle, the emblem of the Communist Party.

Red graffiti, yellow stars, and the iconic communist emblem dominate the faces. The clothing is also symbolic of the occasion, featuring specific colors and symbols, much like the traditional Ao Dai—a stunning, long, and stylized tunic worn by women over pants. Typically, these are not red but white, serving as a reminder of the immense sacrifices these people have made over centuries to maintain their culture and identity.

For several days, thousands of Vietnamese have journeyed from various provinces across the country to join the September 2 celebrations marking the 80th Anniversary of Independence and the victory over French colonialism. They spend the night in makeshift accommodations they set up on the sidewalks along the avenues where the main parade will proceed.

In Vietnam today, there is a prevailing spirit of celebration and patriotism. The official Cuban delegation, led by the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, is also immersed in this atmosphere.

Wherever Cubans go, pedestrians pause to greet them cheerfully, sharing that broad smile that is both contagious and comforting. Many motorcyclists do the same, often riding with families of three or even four, including small children and sometimes grandmothers.

That sentiment permeated the Ho Gum theater hall on Monday afternoon during the central event celebrating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and Vietnam. Presidents Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Luong Cuong attended the occasion, which featured a cultural gala performed by the Military Theater of Music and Dance company.

During his address to the island's friends at the commemoration, Díaz-Canel emphasized that "Vietnam and Cuba have forged an extraordinary relationship, one that has withstood the test of time and now serves as a key example of friendship and cooperation, especially in periods of significant challenges to peace."

He described it as a unique connection that "goes beyond formalities and protocols, as it is rooted in and strengthened by profound traditions and identities."

The Cuban president highlighted the "exemplary nature of the relations between these two nations from the so-called Third World, whose people share ideals of independence, sovereignty, and development with social justice."

Today, he stated, our connections are strengthened across all sectors, including party, parliamentary, defense and security, judicial, workers' organizations, women, young communists, and solidarity.

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong also spoke at the event, recalling the special ties that unite the two peoples, distinguished by Fidel's famous phrase that "for Vietnam we are willing to give our own blood." This is a gesture, he said, that has marked our two countries.

To celebrate the relationship between two nations described as "two hearts with a single beat," the photographic exhibition "Vietnam-Cuba: 65 Years of Loyal Love," showcasing the history shared by these countries, was opened at the Ho Guom Theater.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC