VietNamNet Bridge - Nearly 40 hours since he arrived at Noi Bai Airport until he left the city at 2pm on May 24, President Barack Obama had five meetings, delivered two speeches, and attended one international press conference. He also tasted Vietnamese bun cha and stopped at a tea shop. The two days in Hanoi of the US President left many impressions.
![]() At 9.30pm on May 22, the US President stepped down from the Air Force One to Noi Bai Airport, starting his official visit to Vietnam, with the first two days in Hanoi.
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The Cadillac One of President Obama entered the Presidential Palace. ![]()
At the welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace on May 23 morning, President Obama received flowers from a girl. The American President bowed and smiled at the child. He always kept an open, friendly smile with all people, both senior officials and people of Vietnam.
In talks with President Tran Dai Quang, the two sides agreed to make public the US decision to remove the ban on arms sales to Vietnam. This is considered a milestone in the relations between the two countries, showing the complete normalization of relations between the two former enemies.
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Walking on the campus of the Presidential Palace with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, President Obama was introduced to the house on stilts and the fish pond of President Ho Chi Minh.
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At the international press conference with President Tran Dai Quang, President Obama directly answered the questions why the US lifted the arms embargo on Vietnam, the determination to promote the signing and implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnernship (TPP), and the views of the US presence in the East Sea.
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At the state banquet of President Tran Dai Quang, the brief statement of the US President impressed the attendants for the sincerity and understanding of Vietnamese culture. He commented that Vietnam carries full quality of Lotus - the flower grows from the mud, full of hardship, the symbol of beauty, hope, strength and courage.
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The US President enjoyed bun cha together with a famous American chef Anthony Bourdain at a popular bun cha restaurant in Le Van Huu Street. The head of the White House then said the friendliness and sentiments of the Vietnamese people touched his heart. ![]()
Taking a bun cha serving and 2 bottles of Hanoi beer and buying four more bun cha servings, President Obama made good comments on this specialty of Hanoi. He said after leaving office he will return to Vietnam to enjoy food, Vietnamese culture, and to try iced milk coffee.
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Taking pictures, shaking hands with, and waving hands at thousands of people surrounding the bun cha restaurant in Le Van Huu Street in the evening, President Obama then shared the moment through social networks like Facebook and Instagram. ![]()
The US President on the grandstand of the My Dinh National Convention Center with a greeting by Vietnamese. ![]()
The US President made a 35-minute emotional and impressive speech on Vietnam - US relations at the meeting with over 2,000 students, intellectuals, and young entrepreneurs in Hanoi on May 23 noon.
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Ending his impressive speech with sentences from The Taleof Kieu by Great Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du, President Obama committed that the US is ready to support Vietnam.
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At 1.30pm, Obama left the My Dinh National Convention Center to Noi Bai Airport to fly to HCM City. On the way to the airport, the President stopped at Me Tri Ha village.
![]() Obama shook hands with local people.
![]() Before entering Air Force One, President Obama stopped to wave and say goodbye to Hanoi. |