Exhibition 'Everlasting Friendship': A journey of 65 years of Vietnam-Cuba relations
WVR - On the morning of December 5, at the Vietnam Women's Museum, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Museum, the Vietnam Women's Museum, the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, the "Forever 20" Club, and Media 21 Co., Ltd. jointly organized the exhibition "Everlasting Friendship".
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This event aims to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 - December 2, 2025), the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year, the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam National United Front - the traditional day of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (November 18, 1930 - November 18, 2025); the 81st anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2025) and the 36th anniversary of the All People's National Defense Day (December 22, 1989 - December 22, 2025).
Attendees included Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Museum and the Vietnam Women's Museum; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, former Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, former President of the Vietnam Women's Union, Chairwoman of the Council for the Protection of Children's Rights in Vietnam; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education; leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism along with representatives from various funds, clubs, and social organizations; Mr. Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam; as well as other ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam; former Vietnamese students in Cuba; teachers and students from Vietnam-Cuba Primary School and Trung Vuong Secondary School.
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| Exhibition 'Everlasting Friendship': Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum Nguyen Thi Tuyet delivers the opening speech. (Photo: Tien Dat) |
In her opening speech, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum, emphasized that the exhibition is held in a solemn and sacred space, where the memories and heritage of generations of Vietnamese women are preserved, laid by the foundation of General Nguyen Thi Dinh.
"Over the years, the Vietnam Women's Museum has not only been a place to preserve the memories and heritage of generations of Vietnamese women, but also a cultural bridge, where values of international friendship, solidarity, and the revolutionary tradition of the nation are connected and spread," she expressed.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet shared that the exhibition is a journey of the heart, with each museum staff member dedicating much effort to its realization. The process of organizing the exhibition also contained sincere emotions when encountering documents, images, stories, and artifacts about the Vietnam-Cuba friendship.
The Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum emphasized that the exhibition aims to narrate in a simple yet profound way the 65-year journey of the enduring friendship between the two brotherly nations. Accordingly, "enduring friendship" is not only found in major diplomatic events recorded in history but also in very ordinary stories, through each photo, each keepsake preserved over decades.
Referring to the verses of poet To Huu when he first set foot in Cuba: "I write to you, from this island/Cuba, the Island of Fire, the Island of Passion/Here, truly passionate, passionate about the sky and earth/The sea waves are passionate with honey wine, passionate," Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet affirmed that this is also the spirit the museum wishes to convey: The Vietnam-Cuba friendship will continue to be written by today's and future generations.
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| The Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, stated that the exhibition is part of a series of rich activities taking place during the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
For his part, the Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, noted that today's exhibition is a profound tribute to the historical relationship between the two nations - a relationship forged over generations and always cherished as a priceless treasure, serving as a shining example of international solidarity.
According to the Ambassador, the images, posters, and artifacts displayed at the exhibition were meticulously selected by experts from the Vietnam Women's Museum and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Museum, aiming to recreate the significant milestones in the journey of nurturing the Vietnam-Cuba brotherhood.
He particularly emphasized the role of two exemplary female heroes: Cuban Revolutionary Hero Melba Hernández, who led the movement supporting Vietnam for many years and was the first female Cuban Ambassador to Hanoi; and General Nguyen Thi Dinh, Deputy Commander of the Liberation Forces of Southern Vietnam, later President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association. The Ambassador affirmed: "These two figures are vivid testimonies to the blood-tied friendship between Vietnam and Cuba."
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| The delegates perform the opening ceremony of the "Everlasting Friendship" exhibition. (Source: Organizing Committee) |
Notably, Ambassador Fuentes mentioned that the exhibition is part of a series of rich activities taking place during the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Year 2025, a special year marking a series of historical events between the two countries, while witnessing numerous exchanges and advancements in political, economic, social, cultural, trade, and investment cooperation.
Additionally, the Ambassador emotionally mentioned the campaign supporting the Cuban people launched by the Red Cross and the Vietnam Fatherland Front, which received millions of contributions from the Vietnamese people along with countless touching messages of solidarity.
The enduring and steadfast friendship between Vietnam and Cuba was further affirmed when the campaign coincided with calls for support for compatriots in flood-affected areas. At that moment, a Vietnamese citizen left a heartfelt message: "Half of my heart is for Cuba, the other half for compatriots affected by the floods."
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| Mr. Phung Van Bao was one of the first students sent to Cuba to study livestock farming. Upon returning to Vietnam in 1973, he helped establish 10 chicken farms in Ba Vì with the Le Thi Hong Gam Construction Brigade from Cuba. (Photo: Tien Đạt) |
Answering a question from a reporter of The World and Vietnam Report about the sentiments Cuba has extended to Vietnam, Mr. Phung Van Bao, one of the first Vietnamese students to study in the Caribbean island nation, could not hide his emotion.
For him, the generation of Vietnamese students studying in Cuba from 1965-1973 emerged from the war zone to acquire knowledge, preparing for the reconstruction of the country post-war. "As President Ho Chi Minh said, winning the war is followed by the challenge of rebuilding, which is ten times harder."
During those difficult times, Cuba did not hesitate to take care for Vietnamese students, from their sleep to their meals, with great dedication. Cuba also assisted Vietnam in building many important projects such as the Ba Vì chicken farm, the Thang Loi Hotel serving the 6th Party Congress in 1986, Dong Hoi Hospital, the strategic road Soc Son-Xuan Mai, embodying the spirit of "ready to shed blood" as declared by Leader Fidel Castro in 1966.
Today, with the spirit of gratitude and mutual support, Vietnam is reciprocating that friendship with practical actions to help Cuba develop agriculture, enhance rice productivity, and ensure food security for its 11 million citizens. The recent campaign supporting the Cuban people also received 615 billion VND, ten times the target, demonstrating the deep affection of the Vietnamese people for Cuba and its people.
Therefore, Mr. Phung Van Bao believes that the "Everlasting Friendship" exhibition is not only an occasion to reflect on the 65-year special relationship between Vietnam and Cuba but also an opportunity for this friendship to continue spreading to younger generations, helping them understand the significance of pure and sustainable international solidarity.
Additional images from the event
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| The "Everlasting Friendship" exhibition consists of four parts, showcasing over 200 images, documents, and artifacts that reflect the comprehensive, enduring, and loyal friendship between Vietnam and Cuba. The exhibition features many notable artifacts introduced to the public for the first time, such as the banner "A Melba with Fidel always making revolution with Uncle Ho forever loyal" by Melba Hernández Rodríguez, former Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam, presented on her 75th birthday, July 28, 1996; posters by Cuban artists from the 1970s, demonstrating the passionate support, solidarity, and attachment of the Cuban people to the Vietnamese people... |
