Havana (VNA) – Major Cuban newspapers have run special articles reviewing the heroic history of the Vietnamese people, and affirming the steadfast solidarity between Cuba and Vietnam as Vietnam is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975 - 2025).
The daily Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth) - a newspaper of the Young Communist League - described Vietnam’s victory on April 30, 1975 as a “brilliant epic” and highlighted “President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that ‘Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one’ – and that day, that aspiration came true.”
The newspaper also recalled the great sacrifices of the Vietnamese people, noting more than 7.6 million tonnes of bombs and ammunition were poured into the country, Agent Orange has destroyed the environment, and nearly 4 million people sacrificed their lives to regain the country’s independence.
In the article entitled “Vietnam es un ejemplo para los revolucionarios y para los pueblos del mundo" (Vietnam is an example for revolutionaries and peoples around the world), Granma – the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Cuba – pointed out that half a century ago, Vietnam proved to the US imperialists that no military power could subdue the will of a united nation.
Granma vividly recreated the images of farmers holding guns, teenagers fighting the enemy with bamboo traps, or women using hornets as weapons. The newspaper affirmed that Vietnam’s victory was not only a defeat for imperialism, but also a driving force for the national liberation movement across the world.
Both newspapers devoted many pages to writing about the special solidarity between the two nations. Juventud Rebelde recalled President Fidel Castro’s historic visit to the liberated area of Quang Tri in 1973, when he raised the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and declared: “For Vietnam, Cuba is willing to devote its blood!”.
The newspapers quoted Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long as saying: “The image of Fidel amid the rain of bombs and bullets has become an immortal symbol of friendship.”
In an interview with Cubadebate, Long emphasised that the April 30 victory was not the end, but the beginning of the journey to build a peaceful, unified and prosperous Vietnam.
The Ambassador also shared details about the grand celebration in Ho Chi Minh City, with the presence of a Cuban delegation led by Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa.
Cuban readers also expressed their deep admiration after reading the articles. Francisco Rivero, an elderly reader, emotionally recounted that on the morning of April 30, 1975 (Cuba time), he was on his way to work when someone got on the bus and shouted: ‘Saigon is liberated!’. Then all the passengers rushed out onto the street, heading towards the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Havana to celebrate the victory. “What a memorable day! Greetings to our brother Vietnam!”.
The newspapers all praised Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development. Granma quoted the World Bank’s report as writing that Vietnam expects GDP growth of 6.8% in 2025, becoming one of the most dynamic economies in the region.
The article emphasised the wise leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the strength of national unity as the key to success.
In the article “Vietnam is one, the Vietnamese people are one”, the Juventud Rebelde newspaper affirmed Cuba always go together with Vietnam”.
“Today, Vietnam, the Vietnamese people, are a solid bloc in terms of strength, steadfastness, determination and intelligence in the face of the challenges of the times, constantly developing, enhancing economic potential for the happiness of all people, always remembering and implementing the last wish of President Ho Chi Minh: 'The entire Party and the entire people unite and strive to build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam and make a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause'”, Juventud Rebelde emphasised./.
