On September 30, 2025, the President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba, Esteban Lazo Hernandez, touched down at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport for a six-day official visit that marks a new chapter in the deep and storied relationship between Vietnam and Cuba. As Lazo Hernandez stepped onto Vietnamese soil, he was warmly welcomed by Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes, and staff from the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi, according to VOV.VN.
This visit, Lazo Hernandez’s third in his capacity as President of the Cuban National Assembly—following earlier trips in 2017 and 2024—comes at a momentous time: the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba. Back in 1960, Cuba became the very first Latin American country to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam, and that move set the stage for decades of unwavering solidarity, mutual support, and a friendship forged in the fires of shared struggle for independence and freedom. As highlighted by the Vietnam News Agency, the relationship has grown into a “shining example of lofty, loyal, and pure international solidarity.”
The significance of Lazo Hernandez’s 2025 visit is multifaceted. Not only does it reinforce the tradition of high-level exchanges between the two legislative bodies, but it also serves as a major political and diplomatic event, strengthening the time-honored friendship and solidarity between the two countries. Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long called the visit “a major political and diplomatic event contributing to further strengthening the time-honoured friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba.”
A highlight of the trip is the second session of the Vietnam–Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by Lazo Hernandez in Hanoi. This committee, established in April 2023, may be a relatively new mechanism, but it has already proven highly effective in deepening the unique relationship between the two parliaments. According to the Vietnam News Agency, both sides have engaged in numerous exchanges of information and expertise on building and improving institutions and policies, with the aim of strengthening each country’s legislative framework and governance.
Over the past 65 years, the Vietnam–Cuba bond has matured and flourished, transcending geographical distance and political change. The two nations have stood shoulder to shoulder, both materially and spiritually, during their respective struggles for independence and nation-building. Victories and hardships have been shared, and today, as Cuba faces ongoing economic challenges, the Vietnamese people remain steadfast in their support for their Caribbean brothers and sisters. As the Vietnam News Agency put it, “for all Vietnamese, standing by Cuba is a command from the heart—a responsibility as well as a profound honour.”
Political trust between the two countries has been steadily reinforced through frequent high-level visits, telephone exchanges, and regular meetings between the leaders of the two parties and states. In September 2024, General Secretary and President To Lam made a state visit to Cuba, while First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez paid a state visit to Vietnam from August 31 to September 2, 2025. These historic exchanges have injected fresh momentum into joint projects and bilateral cooperation in a range of fields.
Economic collaboration is a cornerstone of the Vietnam–Cuba partnership. Vietnamese enterprises are actively investing in Cuba, with projects spanning infrastructure construction, building materials production, solar energy development, and essential consumer goods. “Several Vietnamese enterprises are currently promoting investment projects in Cuba, focusing on industrial infrastructure development, production of building materials, solar energy, essential consumer goods, and rice cultivation,” reported VOV.VN. Vietnamese agricultural experts have also played a pivotal role in Cuba’s pursuit of food self-sufficiency, sharing their expertise in rice cultivation and aquaculture to help bring about bountiful harvests on the island.
Solidarity is not just a matter of words—it’s reflected in concrete action. The Vietnam Red Cross Society launched the “65 Years of Vietnam–Cuba Solidarity” program to mobilize resources and help Cuba overcome its difficulties. The fundraising campaign, which ran from August 13 to October 16, 2025, has already raised more than VND437 billion, far surpassing the initial target of VND65 billion. This outpouring of support sends a clear message: “Cuba always holds a special place in the hearts of the Vietnamese people,” as stated by the Vietnam News Agency.
At the international level, Vietnam and Cuba coordinate closely at organizations such as the United Nations, regularly exchanging and aligning their positions on global and regional issues. Vietnam has consistently reaffirmed its stance of solidarity with Cuba, calling for an end to the unilateral economic and financial embargo against the Caribbean state and supporting efforts to normalize relations between Cuba and the United States. “Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed its consistent stance of solidarity and support for Cuba; called for an end to unilateral economic and financial embargoes against Cuba; and supported efforts to improve and normalise Cuba–US relations,” noted the Vietnam News Agency.
The parliamentary relationship is a vital aspect of this partnership. The Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, established in April 2023, has fostered a close and substantive relationship, with both sides exchanging expertise and supporting each other’s institutional development. The second session of this committee, co-chaired by Lazo Hernandez during his visit, is expected to further strengthen legislative collaboration and provide a platform for discussing new avenues of cooperation.
Generational continuity is another hallmark of the Vietnam–Cuba relationship. Today’s younger generations are working hard to keep the flame of friendship burning brightly, building on the legacy left by earlier leaders. Initiatives like the “65 Years of Vietnam–Cuba Solidarity” program reflect a commitment to ensuring that the bonds of friendship are cherished and upheld by successive generations.
As Lazo Hernandez’s official visit unfolds, it is clear that both nations are determined to carry forward the tradition of loyal solidarity and friendship nurtured over decades. By welcoming the Cuban National Assembly President and co-chairing the second meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, Vietnam reaffirms its deep respect for the special relationship—a treasured asset for both peoples. As the two countries look to the future, new milestones in their shared history are sure to be recorded, with both sides moving forward together, hand in hand.
With every high-level visit, joint project, and gesture of solidarity, Vietnam and Cuba continue to demonstrate that their partnership is more than a diplomatic formality—it’s a living, breathing example of international friendship at its finest.
