Mobilizing resources to reach 615 billion VND to support the Cuban people

On the morning of October 18, in Hanoi, the Organizing Committee of the Program "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship" coordinated with the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, the Literature and Arts Times, and the Vietnam Musicians Association to organize the Closing Ceremony of the Program to support the Cuban people "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship" and award and perform the winning work of the songwriting campaign "Vietnam - Cuba, forever echoing the song of solidarity and friendship".

H mobilized 615 billion VND, 9.5 times higher than the initial target.

Attending the event were Comrade Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; representatives of central departments, ministries, branches, organizations and local leaders; the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam; representatives of embassies and international organizations; outstanding groups and individuals responding to the Program, authors who won prizes in the Campaign to compose songs about Cuba, and a large number of Red Cross officials, members and volunteers.

Delegates attending the program. Photo: CTĐ

“65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship” is a program that the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society was assigned by the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front to preside over, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry, the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association, Vietnam Television, the Voice of Vietnam , Vietnam News Agency, and Nhan Dan Newspaper. The program was implemented nationwide for 65 days (from August 13 to October 16), aiming to mobilize at least 65 billion VND in resources to support the Cuban people to overcome difficulties and foster the special friendship between the two nations.

Speaking at the conclusion of the program, Dr. Nguyen Hai Anh - Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Red Cross Society said: "From the first day of launching, the Program has become a strong wave spreading nationwide. 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."

Dr. Nguyen Hai Anh - Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Red Cross Society spoke. Photo: CTĐ

Dr. Nguyen Hai Anh affirmed: Behind those numbers are millions of touching stories about the heart, affection, faith and character of Vietnam. During those 65 days, creative ways and inspiring initiatives have appeared all over the country, from football tournaments, fundraising art performances, painting competitions, group fee collection 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, Comrade Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of Cuba and many high-ranking leaders of the two countries, Comrade Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, presented the first installment of nearly 385 billion VND to the Cuban people.

During his visit to Vietnam from September 30 to October 5 , 2025 , President of the Cuban National Assembly Esteban Lazo Hernandez, on behalf of the leaders of the Party, State and people of Cuba, once again expressed his deep gratitude for the noble gesture of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, thereby demonstrating solidarity and extremely practical support for the Cuban people in the most difficult time; said that part of the money was used to repair about 5,000 damaged transformers nationwide; the remaining amount will be used to repair the electricity and water systems and the most urgent needs of the Cuban people.

Honoring and rewarding outstanding collectives and individuals of the Program. Photo: CTĐ

The music collection "Vietnam - Cuba, Forever the song of solidarity and friendship" will be published.

Notably, in response to the program “65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship”, the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations coordinated with the Literature and Arts Times and the Vietnam Musicians Association to organize a songwriting campaign “Vietnam - Cuba, Forever the song of solidarity and friendship”. Less than two months after its launch, the campaign received 140 works from 124 authors across the country: from veteran musicians, military officers, police, businessmen, lecturers, singers, to even young students - all of whom expressed their sincere feelings for the Vietnam - Cuba friendship.

A particularly touching story is that the family of the late musician Do Nhuan found the song "Vietnam - Cuba", composed in 1964, and sent it as a gift of gratitude, demonstrating the enduring vitality of the friendship between the two nations.

22 songs were selected for the final round, awarded 01 First Prize, 02 Second Prizes, 03 Third Prizes, 10 Consolation Prizes, along with 04 Dedication Prizes and 02 Companion Prizes.

At the same time, the Organizing Committee selected 65 excellent songs to publish the music collection "Vietnam - Cuba, Forever the song of solidarity and friendship".

At the ceremony, the demo collection was solemnly presented to Comrade Rogelio Polanco Fuentes - Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cuba to Vietnam, as a beautiful symbol of music, friendship and steadfast love between the two peoples. Photo: CTĐ

The campaign to support the Cuban people “65 years of Vietnam-Cuba friendship” is not only a simple humanitarian campaign, but has become a political and social activity with great influence, recognized both domestically and internationally. This affirms the strength of the spirit of “remembering the source of water”, the loyalty and steadfast affection of the Vietnamese people towards the Cuban people, and is also a testament to the strength of national solidarity and the spirit of sharing and kindness with international friends.

The program was included in the Vietnam - Cuba High-level Joint Statement on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on September 2, affirming the strategic importance and recognition from the leaders of the two countries for the Program.

Comrade Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central mass organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front delivered a speech. Photo: CTĐ

Affirming that the Program "65 years of Vietnam - Cuba friendship" was a great success, exceeding the expectations of the Organizing Committee, Comrade Do Van Chien, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central organizations, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front emphasized: From the success of the Program, many new and suitable ways of thinking and doing were opened up to effectively implement the three pillars: Party foreign affairs, state diplomacy, people's foreign affairs between Vietnam and Cuba, to foster and raise to a new height the friendly, traditional, and close relationship like blood brothers between Vietnam and Cuba, increasingly strong and good.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/van-dong-nguon-luc-dat-615-ty-dong-ung-ho-nhan-dan-cuba-720140.html