Ceremony to welcome French President Macron on state visit to Vietnam

President Luong Cuong and French President Macron review the honor guard - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The welcoming ceremony took place in the cool weather of the capital Hanoi . President Luong Cuong and his wife were waiting for French President Macron and his wife at the car stop inside the Presidential Palace.

At 9:50 a.m., the motorcade carrying the French leader entered the Presidential Palace. President Luong Cuong and his wife happily welcomed French President Macron and his wife.

Receiving a bouquet of flowers from Hanoi children, the two leaders and their wives walked to the podium to the sound of military music.

As the two leaders stepped onto the podium and stood at attention, the military band immediately played the French and Vietnamese national anthems. After the national anthem ended, President Luong Cuong invited French President Macron to inspect the guard of honor.

The two leaders then introduced the officials of each country attending the welcoming ceremony. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, President Luong Cuong and French President Macron entered into talks, witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries, and met the press to announce the results of the meeting.

This is French President Macron's first visit to Vietnam since taking office. Last year, in November, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making France the first European country to have this level of relationship with Vietnam.

The French leader arrived in Hanoi on the evening of May 25 and will spend three days in Vietnam. He spent the first two activities on his second day in Vietnam laying wreaths at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street and laying wreaths and visiting President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum.