Cuban Traveler Finds Unexpected Parallels Between Vietnam and Cuba

A Cuban national named David Domínguez Francisco shared an Instagram reel last Thursday, documenting his arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam, after an exhaustive journey of over 26 hours. In his video, he highlights the striking resemblances he observed between the Vietnamese capital and Cuba, particularly noting the pervasive presence of communist symbols and the image of Ho Chi Minh on all Vietnamese currency.

The brief video, lasting under two minutes, quickly gained traction, amassing over 13,000 views, 1,273 likes, and 112 comments. This clip is part of a growing trend of Cubans sharing their travel experiences worldwide.

A Surprising Sight: Communist Symbols Everywhere

David noticed immediately the abundance of flags adorned with the hammer and sickle alongside Vietnam's national flag. "Everywhere you look, it's filled with symbols of communism. Even coming from Cuba, it's startling to see this emblem so widespread," he remarked. The sight of the hammer and sickle "is almost interchangeable with their national flag, as they are rarely seen apart."

Currency and Cultural Icons

Another aspect that caught his attention was the uniformity of the Vietnamese dong notes, all featuring Ho Chi Minh's portrait, with denominations ranging from 100 to 500,000 dong. "Every bill has the same figure, Ho Chi Minh. When I was a kid, they took me often to Parque Acapulco to see monuments of this figure. I never quite understood why, but there it is," he commented, referring to the Ho Chi Minh Park in Havana's Nuevo Vedado.

Traffic Chaos and Urban Landscape

David also discussed the chaotic traffic, describing a city dominated by motorbikes. "Men ride scooters, women ride scooters, your grandma rides a scooter, even dogs ride on scooters," he said, humorously adding, "crossing the street feels like an act of faith."

He also pointed out the unique architecture of Hanoi, with its extremely narrow and tall buildings, a result of an old tax based on facade width. During his first day, he visited the famous Hanoi Train Street, a narrow alley in the old quarter where a train passes dangerously close to homes, cafes, and shops.

"Safety measures are left to your own judgment, but the atmosphere, I must admit, is a solid 10," he noted. The group took home a flattened bottle cap as a souvenir, crushed by the train.

Cultural Festivities and Economic Contrasts

David found Hanoi particularly vibrant, thanks to the leftover decorations from the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, celebrated on February 17. "Recently, it was the lunar new year, and the decorations were still up. Hanoi's 'Old Quarter' was brightly lit, full of life," he shared.

While Cuba and Vietnam share a single-party communist system and revolutionary iconography, their economic paths have diverged since 1986. That year, Vietnam initiated the "doi moi" reform, opening its economy to the private market. Between 2009 and 2020, Vietnam's GDP grew at an annual rate of 5.9%, while Cuba's growth was a mere 0.9%. Nevertheless, the Cuban government has explicitly refused to adopt Vietnam's market-opening model.

Officially, the relationship between Cuba and Vietnam has had its notable moments. In August 2025, Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta visited Hanoi on a plane rented for $11,000 per hour, amid Cuba's severe economic crisis.

David Domínguez concluded his video with a promise to share more tales with his followers: "Vietnam has so many things that remind me of Cuba. Its nature, its people, and that thing (the Communist Party), but that's a story for another day."