Which destinations in Vietnam did French presidents choose?

During their official visits to Vietnam, French Presidents have always chosen destinations of cultural and historical significance to stop at.

President Francois Hollande

Mr. Hollande is the third French President to visit Vietnam, starting from September 6 to September 7. This visit is highly anticipated because it creates new momentum in the relationship between the two countries. In the schedule, Mr. Hollande will visit some famous places such as Hanoi's Old Quarter and the Independence Palace.

In particular, Cong Cafe on Ma May Street was also chosen by the French President as a stopover.

Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Deputy Director of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that President Francois Hollande will take a walking tour on Ma May Street, Hanoi. Photo: dulich24h.

President Francois Mitterrand

Francois Mitterrand was the first President of France, and also the first head of state of a Western country to visit Vietnam after 1975. In 1993, he visited Hanoi's Old Quarter to the joyful welcome of the people.

In 1993, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France, President Francois Mitterrand made an official visit to Vietnam. Photo: Archive.

After finishing his activities in Hanoi, Francois Mitterrand visited the remains of General de Castries' bunker in Dien Bien. Arriving in front of the bunker, he carefully observed the structure covered with thick, sturdy steel plates shaped like an arc and reinforced concrete. The President quietly admired for a long time the war artifacts stained by time.

President Jacques Chirac

In 1997, President Jacques Chirac attended the inauguration ceremony of the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. This was a cooperation project between France and Vietnam on the occasion of the Francophone Summit.

On November 12, 1997, Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh and French President Jacques Chirac cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Photo: French Embassy in Vietnam.

During his second visit to Vietnam in 2004, Mr. Jacques Chirac visited the excavation site of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. The President also commented: "I would like to send my thanks to the Institute of Social Sciences and the experts of the French School of the Far East (EFEO) for the historic and admirable work done here, and my wish is to continue to honor the value of this relic. It is very necessary for the history of Vietnam and brings honor to humanity".

According to VNE