An exhibition of 100 photos taken by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s photojournalists has brought Cuba and Vietnam - on opposite sides of the globe - a little bit closer together.

Everywhere in the island country, Vietnamese names are familiar to Cubans, such as Ho Chi Minh, Nguyen Van Troi, Le Van Tam, Hanoi, Cu Chi and Ben Tre, which are streets names, educational institutions, healthcare and sports facilities, factories and farms.

VNA General Director Tran Mai Huong said at the opening ceremony in Hanoi on July 2 that though geographically very far away, Cuba always treats VNA journalists warmly, through programmes of cooperation with the Prensa Latina (PL) news agency, the national News Agency of Cuba (AIN) and other Cuban press agencies.

“Cuba is also close to Vietnam thanks to news, pictures and video sent home every day by the resident VNA correspondents as well as through news items broadcast by the VNA to Cuba and other parts of the world,” said the VNA chief.

Cuban Ambassador Fredesman Turro Gonzalez said the photos reflect the friendship and affection that the Cuban people feel for their Vietnamese sisters and brothers, which creates a firm foundation for relations between the two countries.

The exhibition is expected to help Vietnamese people better understand a simple and happy Cuba, the diplomat concluded.

The photo exhibition, themed “ Cuba: Far away but right here”, will run until July 6, then move to Ho Chi Minh City from July 24 to August 4.

It is a jointly produced by the VNA, the Cuban embassy and the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association.