The University of Havana, in collaboration with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), inaugurated a new Vietnam studies department on May 19, 2025. The department, named after Ho Chi Minh, operates within the Faculty of Philosophy, History, and Sociology.
The inauguration coincided with the 135th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh's birth and the 130th anniversary of José Martí's death. Dr. Miriam Nicado García, Rector of the University, emphasized the department's role in strengthening ties between Vietnamese and Cuban higher education institutions.
Dr. Maria Teresa Montes, head of the department, stated its core mission is to promote research into Ho Chi Minh's political thought and Vietnam's historical, economic, and cultural development. Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long expressed optimism that the department will become a reputable center for education and research on Vietnam, extending its influence across Latin America and the world, and deepening the friendship between the two nations.