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While Cuba is immersed in a deep crisis, Lis Cuesta, the wife of Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and with no official position in the government, is once again enjoying a presidential trip with her husband: this time to Vietnam.
Cuesta arrived on Saturday with the delegation from the island that will also travel to China and Laos, and this Monday he toured Hanoi hand in hand with Mrs. Ngô Phương Ly, the wife of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Tô Lâm, according to the official press of that country.
Lis and Ly, accompanied by their husbands, enjoyed a performance of water puppetry at the Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre and visited the Ngọc Sơn Temple.
The images show Cuesta learning the method for manipulating the water puppets.
"Alongside the two first ladies was also a Vietnamese girl, daughter of a Vietnamese father and a Cuban mother, born and raised in Cuba," adds the note from the Vietnamese press.
The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and his wife Lis Cuesta arrived in Vietnam on Saturday night for an official visit, chartering a plane that costs $11,000 per hour.
It involves the Airbus A330-200 with a capacity for 299 passengers, tail number EC-KOM from the Spanish airline Plus Ultra that the ruler used in 2023.
In November 2023, the same airplane was used by Díaz-Canel for his tour of the Middle East. It also took Díaz-Canel to New York in September of that year for the United Nations Assembly.
According to Diario de Cuba, the rental costs 11,000 dollars per hour. The independent media confirmed that flight PU943 departed from Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday and landed at 8:38 AM on Sunday in Hanoi, after 11 hours of flight.
The delegation from the Cuban regime arrived this Saturday at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, where it was welcomed 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 government officials, as well as representatives from the Friendship Association between the two countries.
Although Lis Cuesta is not on the official list, as is customary, she accompanies her husband on the trip.
On his first day of visits, Díaz-Canel placed a floral tribute at a bust of José Martí in a park in Hanoi and visited the National Museum of Military History, reported the state media.
This is the beginning of an official tour of his Asian allies Vietnam, China, and Laos.
During his stay in these countries, he will meet with his counterparts "to promote the development of bilateral cooperation in all cases, the implementation of existing agreements, as well as to accelerate the joint construction of the Community of Shared Future Cuba-China," the official information specifies.
In the midst of the structural crisis that the Cuban society is experiencing, this tour will surely become another plea for help from Havana to its allies.
This week it was reported, for example, that in Vietnam a solidarity campaign for Cuba raised a donation of 14 million dollars in just a few days.
Frequently asked questions about Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta's visit to Vietnam
How much did the plane that Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta used to travel to Vietnam cost?
The chartered plane costs 11,000 dollars per hour. It is an Airbus A330-200 from the Spanish airline Plus Ultra, the same one that Díaz-Canel used in 2023 for other international tours.
What activities did Lis Cuesta undertake in Vietnam?
Lis Cuesta, without an official position in the government, participated in protocol activities alongside the wife of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. They enjoyed a water puppet show and visited the Ngọc Sơn Temple in Hanoi.
Why does Lis Cuesta's presence on official trips generate controversy?
The controversy arises because Lis Cuesta does not hold an official position. However, she accompanies her husband on international tours and participates in protocol events, which has been criticized in the context of the severe economic and social crisis facing Cuba.
What is the purpose of Díaz-Canel's official trip to Asia?
The aim is to promote the development of bilateral cooperation with Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, and Laos. During the visits, the objective is to implement existing agreements and expedite the construction of the Cuba-China Community of Shared Future.
How does Díaz-Canel's official tour affect Cuba amid the current crisis?
The official tour is seen as an attempt to seek assistance from Asian allies. While the Cuban government strengthens diplomatic ties, the population faces extreme poverty, collapsed hospitals, and a constantly deteriorating quality of life.
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