Cuban Leader Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta Arrive in Vietnam on $11,000-per-Hour Chartered Plane

Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife, Lis Cuesta, landed in Vietnam on Saturday night for an official visit, utilizing a chartered plane that costs $11,000 per hour. The aircraft, an Airbus A330-200 with a capacity of 299 passengers and tail number EC-KOM, is from the Spanish airline Plus Ultra. This is the same aircraft Díaz-Canel used in 2023 for his Middle East tour and for his trip to New York in September for the United Nations Assembly.

According to Diario de Cuba, the charter's hourly rate is $11,000. The independent outlet confirmed that flight PU943 departed from Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday and touched down in Hanoi at 8:38 AM on Sunday after an 11-hour journey. The Cuban regime's delegation was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi by Nguyen Xuan Thang, a member of the Political Bureau, director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and president of the Central Theoretical Council, along with other party and governmental officials and members of the Friendship Association between the two nations.

Although Lis Cuesta is not officially listed as part of the delegation, she customarily accompanies her husband on such trips. On his first day in Vietnam, Díaz-Canel laid a floral tribute at a bust of José Martí in a Hanoi park and visited the National Museum of Military History, as reported by the state-controlled media.

Embarking on an Asian Tour

This visit marks the beginning of an official tour to Asian allies, including Vietnam, China, and Laos. Díaz-Canel stated on social media platform X that these are "sister nations with whom we share deep bonds and a history of cooperation and solidarity that has stood the test of time and significant challenges. We will keep you informed."

During his visit, the Cuban leader will participate in events commemorating the 80th anniversaries of Vietnam's declaration of independence and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, as well as China's victory in its War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the Global Anti-Fascist War, according to official Cuban sources.

While in these countries, Díaz-Canel plans to meet with his counterparts to advance bilateral cooperation, implement existing agreements, and expedite the joint construction of the Cuba-China Community of Shared Future.

Joining Díaz-Canel on this trip are Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Emilio Lozada García, member of the Central Committee and head of its International Relations Department; and Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment.

Amidst Cuba's Ongoing Crises

Amidst Cuba's deepening structural crisis, this tour likely represents another plea for assistance from Havana to its allies. This week, it was revealed that a solidarity campaign in Vietnam raised $14 million for Cuba in a matter of days. The campaign, which runs until October 16, underscores the strength of diplomatic ties between the two countries but also highlights the Cuban regime’s reliance on international solidarity, even as millions on the island face extreme poverty, healthcare system failures, and a continuously declining quality of life.