Which destinations in Vietnam have successive French presidents chosen?

During their official visits to Vietnam, French presidents consistently choose destinations with cultural and historical significance for both countries.

President Francois Hollande

President Hollande is the third French President to visit Vietnam, with his visit taking place from September 6th to 7th. This visit is highly anticipated as it is expected to create new momentum in bilateral relations. His schedule includes visits to several famous landmarks such as Hanoi's Old Quarter and the Independence Palace.

Notably, the Cộng coffee shop on Mã Mây street was also chosen by the French President as a stopover point.

Mr. Dinh Toan Thang, Deputy Director of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that President Francois Hollande will take a walk on Ma May Street in 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, where he was warmly welcomed by the people.

In 1993, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France, President Francois Mitterrand made an official visit to Vietnam. (Archival photo)

Concluding his activities in Hanoi, Francois Mitterrand visited the bunker of General de Castries in Dien Bien Phu. Standing before the bunker, he carefully observed the structure, encased in thick, sturdy steel plates bent into an arc shape and reinforced concrete. The President silently gazed for a long time at the war artifacts, now stained with the passage of time.

President Jacques Chirac

In 1997, President Jacques Chirac attended the inauguration of the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi. This was a collaborative project between France and Vietnam, held 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, Jacques Chirac visited the Thang Long Imperial Citadel excavation site. The President also noted: "I would like to express my gratitude to the Academy of Social Sciences and the experts of the French School of Far Eastern Studies (EFEO) for the historically significant and admirable work they have done here, and my wish is to continue to honor the value of this site. It is essential for Vietnamese history and an honor for humanity."

According to VNE