Nothing rewards as much as being consistent with the history that has been lived. Of Vietnam, a people that our José Martí praised for their industriousness, the Cuban National Hero told in his narration A stroll through the land of the Annamites that "they walk quietly, at an equal and sad pace, without being surprised by anything, learning what they do not know", and working incessantly "those who live on fish and rice and dress in silk, far away, in Asia, by the seashore, below China".
He also depicted the fierce defense of their homeland, describing them as follows: "The poor Annamites fought, and will fight again, as much as the bravest ones".
Cuba, which in the voice of Fidel expressed that for that people it was ready to give even its own blood, strengthened the indestructible friendship with Vietnam. History also gratified that union with singular coincidences.
August 13 is a day on which Cuba celebrates the anniversary of Fidel's birth, while Vietnam remembers that on that day, in 1945, under the wise and revolutionary leadership of Ho Chi Minh, the National Party Conference was held in Tan Trao, which lasted until the 15th of the same month.
That meeting concentrated the intelligence of the whole Party, to deeply analyze the world and national situation, and decided to take the opportunity to lead all the people in a general uprising, in order to seize power. In this sense, he chose the National Uprising Committee.
The context in the Indochina region showed a victorious Japan over the French colonies. The Gauls quickly surrendered and fled, but the Vietnamese were called upon not to trust puppet governments, and did not stop fighting.
Uncle Ho had instructed Comrade Vo Nguyen Giap: "It is necessary to choose immediately in Cao-Bac-Lang or Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen region, a place with good people, good revolutionary bases and good terrain, which will serve as a center of communication with the lowlands, highlands and abroad, and protect our forces. The advance can be attacked, the retreat can be defended. We are still weak, the enemy is strong, but we must not allow him to destroy us."
That elected Liberation Committee, with Ho Chi Minh at the head, made several political decisions; one, to put the whole country on a fighting footing, and another, transcendental one, to assume the National Flag, red and with the golden star, and the National Anthem.
Millions of Vietnamese rose up united and conquered power. The great victory of the August Revolution of 1945 opened a new era in the history of the nation: that of independence, freedom and socialism; the era of Ho Chi Minh, the most brilliant and glorious in the history of that country.
August 19 of that year marked a milestone: with the triumph of the Revolution, the first worker-peasant state in Southeast Asia was born.
Later would come other times of Annamite victories: those of May 7, 1954, when they surrendered definitively to French colonialism in Dien Bien Phu, after four months of hard fighting; also with the leadership of Uncle Ho, in the front line of combat.
Then came another bloody war against the invading U.S. imperialism, defeated in the land of brave warriors, on April 30, 1975, when the world came to know the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
From that moment on, its people were engaged in an equally arduous task, that of making Ho Chi Minh's dream of raising, after so many wars and so much destruction, a country ten times more beautiful, come true.
According to the Vietnam Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, the country's total trade reached an impressive peak of over US$786.29 billion and a year-on-year increase of 15.4%, with a trade surplus of US$24.77 billion.
At the close of last year, the Vietnamese economy showed remarkable resilience, marked by a GDP growth of 7.09%, exposing its robust recovery and resilience. With a solid trade dynamic, Vietnam is today an obligatory reference in the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
In December, Cuba and the sister nation will celebrate the 65th anniversary of their relations. The Greater Antilles is proud of that great history, and is inspired by a dignified, hardworking and courageous people.
