Hanoi has been at the center of worldwide attention, not only for being the host of the second US – North Korea summit, but also for the warm welcome and hospitality from local people to US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi. 

Getting off the Dong Dang station in the northern province of Lang Son, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un saw first-hand the hospitality of Vietnamese people by cheering and wavering two countries flags.

Kim reportedly said that he has been through a long way of more than 3,000 kilometers to Vietnam and thanked the country for such hospitality and warm reception. As Kim got into a Mercedes Benz vehicle on his way to Hanoi for his high-stake meeting, he waved from the car to people lining in the street, a move hardly seen during his time in Singapore for the first US – North Korea summit, due to security reason. 

In Hanoi, the local people had been busy cleaning up the streets and decorating the surrounding areas in a joint-effort to make Hanoi more beautiful and cleaner.

Earlier, a caravan was held in Hanoi on February 25 to disseminate the municipal authorities’ call on the locals to demonstrate their civilized manner ahead of the second US – North Korea summit, thus promoting Hanoi’s image to international friends.

On the same day, US President Donald Trump arrived at Noi Bai Airport and received the same affection and warm welcome from Vietnamese people. Less than half an hour from setting his foot in Vietnam, the most powerful man on earth wrote in his Twitter account: "Just arrived in Vietnam. Thank you to all of the people for the great reception in Hanoi. Tremendous crowds, and so much love!”

The tweet later received more than 5,000 replies and 30,000 likes, signaling a positive start for such an event of global importance in Hanoi. 

With nearly 3,000 international reporters from 200 media outlets in 40 countries and territories coming to Hanoi to deliver news about the event, locals were ready to offer hot coffee and tea for them to feel more comfortable as the weather became colder, much to the surprise of those foreign guests. 

At the International Media Center (IMC) – located at the Friendship Cultural Palace, Hanoi’s authority has invited the city’s best cuisine artisans to serve their specialties to foreign reporters at the cafeteria. 

In addition to 40 European and Asian-styled dishes, the cafeteria offers nine specialties of Hanoi for free, including pho Thin (Thin noodles served with beef), bun thang (noodles with chicken broth), bun cha (noodles with grilled meat), xoi Phu Thuong (Phu Thuong sticky rice), among others. 

Moreover, foreign reporters are offered free tour and bus service between February 25 and March 2 for their convenience during the summit. 

Iqbal Himawan, a reporter from News Anchor, Metro TV Indonesia said: “Overlooking Hanoi while sitting on a double decker bus is an interesting experience. I feel very free to see the peaceful scenery on both sides, among the trees and different views.”

A same view is shared by Hsu Li-Shan, a reporter from Asia Digital Media, Taiwan (China), saying: “Hanoi's free double decker bus is very convenient, I only need less than 2 seconds, staff at the International Media Center gate provide me with free tickets to use this exciting service.”

As the summit is coming to its end, while most attention would be on the outcome of the summit, Hanoi no doubt has made its mark on foreign guests, for which many experts said Hanoi has served as a bridge towards peace, especially at the time the city is celebrating its 20th anniversary of being recognized by the UNESCO as City for Peace. 

Hanoitimes