Gathering in HCM city to celebrate Cuba’s Moncada Barracks attack

It was the first among a series of events in HCM City to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic ties (December 2, 1960 - 2020).
July 23, 2020 | 07:26
cuban national hero jose marti commemorated in hanoi Cuban national hero Jose Marti commemorated in Hanoi
vietnam cuba vow to tighten relations amid covid 19 outbreak Vietnam, Cuba vow to tighten relations amid COVID-19 outbreak
covid 19 friendship association donates over usd 66000 to cuba COVID-19: Friendship Association donates over USD 66,000 to Cuba
gathering in hcm city celebrates cubas moncada barracks attack
Art performace by Cuban friends. Photo: HUFO

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association held a get-together in the city on July 22, to mark the 67th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks (July 26, 1953) which the Cubans view as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.

Speaking at the event, President of the city’s Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association, Truong Thi Hien spoke highly of the significance of the Moncada Barracks attack, describing the 1953 attack as a landmark that mirrored the undaunted spirit of the Cuban people under the leadership of President Fidel Castro, and provided a premise for Cuba’s cause of liberation, unification and construction.

She also emphasised that the special relations and cooperation between the two nations have been constantly developed in various fields, particularly politics, trade and economy, security and defence, education, healthcare, and biotechnology.

She added that the HUFO and the city’s Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association have coordinated with the Cuban Consulate General to hold major events for Cuba and various friendship exchanges and cooperation between the two countries’ people.

These activities have attracted a large number of students and the people of the city, contributing to fostering the special traditional friendship between the two countries.

For her part, Cuban Consul General in HCM City Indira Lopez Arguelles then thanked the HUFO for hosting the get-together to mark the Moncada Barracks attack - a turning point in the Cuban revolution and contributed greatly to the final victory.

On July 26, 1953, a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Although they lost, this event paved the way for the insurrection against the regime of Dictator Fulgencio Batista and the establishment of the first agrarian-industrial country in the Western Hemisphere, taking Cuba to a new era of freedom and independence.

gathering in hcm city celebrates cubas moncada barracks attack
Delegates durng a get-together in HCM City on July 22 to mark the 67th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks (July 26, 1953). Photo: HUFO

According to Arguelles, 2020 marks the 60th anniversary of Vietnam - Cuba diplomatic ties and is a time for the two nations to advance bilateral trade and economic partnerships.

"We repeat our commitments to the ideals of leader Fidel Castro and we know that there is no better way to pay homage to them than to develop infinite infinitely love and friendship that unites us," Arguelles emphasised.

The meeting to celebrate the Moncada Victory will open the chain of activities held in Ho Chi Minh City on the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cuba (December 2, 1960 - 2020).

In recent months, Vietnam has donated supplies such quick test kits, medical masks, personal protective equipment and rice as well as cash donation to assist the fight against COVID-19 in the Caribbean nation.

The central Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the club of Vietnamese alumni once studied in Cuba in April also started a campaign and raised over VND1,57 billion (USD 66.000) to help Cuba in the fight against the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

In April, the HUFO also granted funding to support Cuban citizens in the southern city in lessening the impact of COVID-19./.

cuba presents friendship medal to vietnamese ambassador Cuba presents Friendship Medal to Vietnamese Ambassador

Cuba on July 15 presented the Friendship Medal to Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanh, for his contributions to two countries' relations.

vietnam cuba friendship association of ben tre province founded Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association of Ben Tre province founded

The southern province of Ben Tre founded its branch of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, in the year of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two ...

cuban national hero jose marti commemorated in hanoi Cuban national hero Jose Marti commemorated in Hanoi

A floral tribute was paid to Cuban national hero Jose Marti at his statute in Hanoi’s Tao Dan Park on the 125th anniversary of his ...

Hannah Nguyen