French President and First Lady strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake at night

French President Macron and his wife walk around Hoan Kiem Lake - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

In the cool weather of Hanoi after the rain, French President Macron and his wife left the hotel and walked on the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake. The French leader happily waved and said hello in French when some Vietnamese people greeted him in his mother tongue.

He and his wife walked through Ly Thai To flower garden, where Vietnamese people still enjoy the weekend with many activities. Some people recognized him and said "Welcome to Vietnam", the French leader happily waved back.

Arriving at Hoan Kiem Lake, the French leader and his wife chose to walk along the lake shore, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of Vietnam's thousand-year-old capital. Some French tourists were surprised to see their President in Hanoi.

The French President and his wife then turned to The Huc Bridge - Ngoc Son Temple, one of the places not to be missed by international visitors when coming to Hanoi.

Here, he was introduced to the history of the temple, its values and related historical stories. He also spent time to see the Hoan Kiem turtle specimen, the turtle associated with the story of returning the sacred sword of King Le Thai To in the past.

Leaving Ngoc Son Temple, the French President and his wife continued walking along the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake. As they walked, he admired the surrounding scenery, occasionally asking about the French architectural structures along the road.

The walking tour ended at 11pm on May 25, concluding the French leader's first day in Vietnam. Despite having just taken a long flight to Vietnam, French President Macron and his wife still took time to immerse themselves in the local atmosphere, showing his respect for the local culture.

The French leader happily waved to the Vietnamese people - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

This is Mr. Macron's first state visit to Vietnam as President of France. Before that, right after arriving in Hanoi, the French President affirmed that he came here with the desire to "strengthen bilateral relations in essential areas: defense, innovation, energy transition, cultural exchange".

He affirmed that it is in this Indo- Pacific region that part of the future of many people, including French citizens, is taking place.

The greatest challenges of this century - climate, economic, geopolitical - according to Mr. Macron, can only be solved through cooperation with partners and especially with the Indo-Pacific because this is a region with vibrant trade, a cradle of innovation, growth and technology.

“This is why France is present and acts with its partners through very concrete projects that benefit the region, businesses and our common future,” he affirmed.

Some first images of the French President and his wife in Vietnam

French President Macron and his wife take a walk around Hoan Kiem Lake - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

French leader walks through Ly Thai To flower garden - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

The French President and his wife walk past an area with games for children - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

Mr. Macron's walk around Hanoi right after arriving not only shows his respect for Vietnamese culture but also affirms that Vietnam and the capital Hanoi are peaceful, stable and safe countries - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH