Vietnamese leader To Lam’s official visit to France marks Olivier Brochet’s final high-level diplomatic engagement as French Ambassador to Vietnam, bringing his three-year posting to a close.
Party General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife begin an official visit to France today, where the Vietnamese leader will also attend a space summit in Paris from September 10-12.
Just before the visit, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet returned to Thay Pagoda, a centuries-old cultural and religious landmark in Hanoi that he had already visited three times during his three-year posting.
The trip was also the ambassador’s final official journey in Vietnam before returning home, bringing his tenure in the country to an end.
In one of Vietnam’s symbolic cultural settings, French Ambassador Olivier Brochet delivers an emotional farewell to the Vietnamese people.
“I love the landscape here, so before returning home I wanted to come here once more. It is an ancient pagoda, harmoniously set against the mountains, with its architecture still almost entirely intact, little excessive human intervention and a location not too far from central Hanoi,” Brochet told officials from Quoc Oai Commune.
Thay Pagoda was built according to a distinctive feng shui principle known as “backed by mountains, facing water.” The pagoda rests against Sai Son Mountain, with the expansive Long Tri Lake in front. The setting brings mountains and water into harmony, reflecting the balance between stillness and movement, yin and yang in East Asian thought.
Standing before the water pavilion, an architectural feature that gives Thay Pagoda much of its distinctive character, the ambassador said that “every time I come here, I discover more of its beauty.”
Looking out at the pavilion, Brochet was fascinated to learn that its traditional water puppet performances are often staged by amateur performers who are also local farmers. He had previously watched many performances by professional artists in central Hanoi.
“The performances were in Vietnamese, so I could not understand what the characters were saying, but I could still imagine some of the stories about Vietnam’s history and cultural life, particularly through images such as a dragon soaring into the air or a turtle emerging,” the ambassador recalled.
On his fourth visit to Thay Pagoda, Brochet continued to find new details to discover, frequently taking photographs to share on his personal Facebook page.
From the main pagoda, Brochet crossed Nhat Tien Bridge and climbed 250 stone steps to Cao Pagoda, where he explored Thanh Hoa Cave. The ambassador said both France and Vietnam attach great importance to heritage conservation, which must ensure that historic structures endure while preserving their “soul” and distinctive character.
“I am very happy to see that Vietnam has sites where this has clearly been achieved, such as Thay Pagoda and the heritage sites in Hue,” he said.
Brochet said cooperation in this field extends beyond preserving French-era heritage in Vietnam, with the two countries also exchanging experts and architects. He cited cooperation between the Dien Bien Phu Victory Museum in Vietnam and the Caen Memorial Museum in France as an example.
Impressed by the optimism of the Vietnamese people
Over the past three years, Brochet has travelled extensively across Vietnam, from major cities to provinces where French partners finance or operate projects.
“Every time I visited these projects, I was delighted to see the tangible benefits they brought to local communities, putting into practice the commitments made by the two countries’ senior leaders. These trips also gave me opportunities to discover Vietnam’s diverse beauty.
“Everywhere I went, I was warmly welcomed. I love walking, whether through mountains or fields, or among tea-covered hills, and meeting the people who live there. Even in scorching heat, I saw farmers working tirelessly in their fields. In those circumstances, I could still feel the optimism of the Vietnamese people, and that is something I deeply admire,” the ambassador said.
As his connection with the country deepened, Brochet said he also witnessed Vietnam changing day by day.
“The cities I visited changed every day. Industrial parks had expanded each time I returned, while the healthcare system - a traditional area of cooperation between our two countries - had also developed visibly,” he said.
“The Vietnamese people are genuinely kind and warm. After my posting here comes to an end, Vietnam and its people will always hold a special place in my heart,” Brochet said.
French Ambassador Olivier Brochet pays farewell visits to Vietnamese leaders. Photos: VNA, VGP, National Assembly Media, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Speaking about Party Chief and President To Lam’s visit, the French ambassador said the fact that the two countries’ top leaders have met three times in less than two years alone demonstrates the high level of political trust between Vietnam and France.
That trust, he said, will help the two countries work together to address global challenges and issues. It also provides a foundation for French businesses to expand their presence, investment and cooperation with Vietnam, particularly as the country enters a new era of development.
The visit offers an opportunity for both sides to reaffirm their commitment to strengthening cooperation in traditional areas that have already produced positive results, while also announcing new fields in which they can work together.
Notably, To Lam will lead the Vietnamese delegation attending the space summit, an area where Brochet believes France and Vietnam have considerable room to expand cooperation.
As part of the planned itinerary, the Vietnamese leader will visit Paris-Saclay, one of France’s leading centers for higher education and research.
“This is an opportunity for us to show Vietnam the very best that France has to offer in education, training and research,” Brochet said.
Vietnamnet.vn
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