Fidel Castro in Quang Tri: Cuba’s Embrace Amid the Flames of War
	Vietnam - Cuba: Strong Bond Over 65 Years

Nguyen Thai Hoc, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Fatherland Front and Mass Organizations, spoke at the press briefing. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Over 467 Billion VND Raised for the Cuban People

Speaking with the press, Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, outlined the “Five Achievements” of the campaign to support the Cuban people:

Politically and diplomatically, the campaign reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent and humanitarian foreign policy, contributing to deepening the exemplary, trusting, and brotherly friendship and partnership with Cuba.

In terms of humanitarian spirit and social values, the campaign awakened the Vietnamese people’s gratitude, solidarity, and sense of international responsibility.

In terms of scale and results, after nearly two months of implementation, the campaign attracted nearly 2.2 million participants, with donations received through accounts in 2022 exceeding 467 billion VND. This has become one of the largest campaigns ever conducted, both domestically and abroad, within such a short period.

In terms of communication, thousands of articles, television programs, documentaries, livestreams, and millions of social media shares created a “wave of Vietnam-Cuba solidarity” that spread widely across and beyond the country.

In terms of organization, the campaign reaffirmed the pivotal role of the Vietnam Red Cross Society in international humanitarian efforts, serving as a reliable bridge between the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), and the people.

Nguyen Hai Anh emphasized: “The Cuban people will decide how to make the best use of these funds. This is a gift from the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam, reflecting the loyal and steadfast friendship between our two nations." He expressed his hope that the campaign would not end on October 16 but would continue through future projects and activities, including cultural and tourism exchanges, further illuminating the Vietnam-Cuba friendship.

According to information shared at the press briefing, the campaign received overwhelming support from all levels, sectors, and social groups, becoming a deeply humanitarian social movement. Numerous creative initiatives were implemented, such as: A songwriting contest titled “Vietnam-Cuba: The everlasting song of friendship”; friendly football matches; online community groups calling for donations to Cuba; and hundreds of outreach activities held across the country.

In the coming period, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam, and the Cuban Red Cross to facilitate the transfer of support resources and report on the results of their use in Cuba.

The Society will also summarize and evaluate the campaign, commend outstanding collectives and individuals, and submit a comprehensive report to the leadership of the Party, the State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Furthermore, it will continue public outreach efforts to promote the special Vietnam-Cuba solidarity, and prepare friendship and activities during the high-level Vietnamese delegation’s visit to Cuba at the end of 2025.

Innovative Approaches in Supporting Storm-Affected Communities

At the same press briefing, Cao Xuan Thao, Head of the Department for Social Mobilization of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, shared updates on the fundraising campaign for victims of Typhoon No. 10. On October 2, the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front organized a launch ceremony and issued a call for donations to help affected citizens overcome storm damages. At the event, organizations and individuals pledged 673 billion VND in support. As of 5:00 p.m. on October 8, the total registered contributions had reached nearly 800 billion VND. Many organizations and individuals donated directly at the Central Committee’s reception point (46 Trang Thi, Hanoi) or via bank transfer to the Central Relief Fund’s account.

The Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front sent letters of appeal and donation guidelines to ministries, agencies, organizations, and localities, and publicized them in the press and on social media. To date, 34 provincial and municipal Fatherland Front Committees have launched and organized fundraising drives, generating a strong ripple effect across society.

On October 3, the Central Relief Fund allocated 265 billion VND from central resources to 17 provinces and cities affected by Typhoon No. 10. Earlier, on September 30, five severely affected provinces received an initial 2.5 billion VND in emergency assistance.

Cao Xuan Thao highlighted several innovations in this campaign. For the first time, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front partnered with the Thien Tam Fund (Vingroup) to implement a 500-billion-VND assistance package for 16 affected provinces and cities, ensuring transparency, fairness, and proper distribution.

Working groups were dispatched to conduct on-site assessments and coordinate with local Front Committees to reach each affected household. In addition, the campaign introduced two types of donation accounts to accommodate contributors’ preferences: public and anonymous.

“So far, more than 39% of donors have chosen to contribute anonymously,” he said.

After just one week of launching, total pledges approached 800 billion VND. Numerous artists, entrepreneurs, and public figures joined the campaign through charity events, concerts, and sports tournaments, helping to spread the spirit of “mutual affection and solidarity - supporting the Central and Northern regions.”

In the coming time, the Vietnam Fatherland Front will continue to expand its fundraising activities through various means, ensuring transparent, timely, and effective management and distribution of all donations. The complete list of beneficiaries will also be made public down to the commune level for community supervision.

Nguyen Thai Hoc, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Central Mass Organizations, affirmed that all donations for both the Cuban people and storm-affected Vietnamese citizens will be delivered in full, to the right recipients, without any loss or misallocation.

He stressed that both fundraising efforts stemmed from the compassionate and humane spirit of the Vietnamese people: “Our people have a deep and passionate love for the nation - an invaluable tradition of our country. That tradition shines brightest in difficult times, when we not only share with our flood-affected compatriots but also send our solidarity to our Cuban brothers and sisters,” he said.

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