Macron wraps up official trip to Vietnam as Head of French State

HOCHIMINH CITY, Vietnam - French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse, Brigitte Macron, concluded their state visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, May 27, following a three-day tour at the invitation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The visit included several significant events, commencing with a visit to President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, where the French President and his spouse paid tribute. They also honoured war heroes and martyrs at the Bạc Son street monument in Hà Nội.

In addition, Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and President Macron jointly planted a friendship tree at the Hồ Chí Minh Relic Site and toured the Temple of Literature. They enjoyed a performance of traditional Vietnamese music by artists from the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theatre.

The highlight of the visit was a talk between the two leaders, during which they discussed bilateral relations and shared updates on their respective countries' economic development. Both sides agreed to deepen their partnership, expanding into new areas like infrastructure, urban transport, aerospace, and new energy.

General Secretary Lâm hosted a reception for President Macron, and President Phuc presided over the official welcome ceremony and state banquet. The two Presidents also held a joint press meeting and exchanged views on international issues of mutual interest.

National Assembly Chairman Tràn Thanh Mãn met with President Macron and accompanied him on a tour of the underground archaeological exhibition space at the National Assembly building.

During the visit, Macron and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha also engaged in a working breakfast with energy sector business representatives from both countries, aiming to foster collaboration during each nation's energy transition process.

In addition, Macron visited the University of Science and Technology of Hà Nội and attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the VNVC vaccine and bioproduct manufacturing plant, the largest and most modern vaccine production facility in Vietnam to date, developed with technology transferred by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi.

The French guests also toured Hà Nội's Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of General Secretary Tô Lâm, joined Brigitte Macron in a visit to the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

The visit underscored France's commitment to strengthening its ties with Vietnam, presenting France as a reliable partner in the region[1][3]. Nevertheless, various NGOs called upon Macron to address human rights issues, particularly the release of detained human rights defenders and the repeal of repressive laws[2].

[1] Demaria, N. (2025, May 26). Macron heads to Vietnam to strengthen economic ties ahead of EU visit. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/macron-heads-vietnam-strengthen-economic-ties-ahead-eu-visit-2025-05-26/

[2] Vietnamese, H. R. (2025, May 27). Human Rights Watch Urges French President to Address Issues During Vietnam Visit. Voice of America. Retrieved from https://www.voanews.com/a/human-rights-watch-urges-french-president-to-address-issues-during-vietnam-visit/7102265.html

[3] Fraser, J. (2025, May 29). Macron's Vietnam Visit Aims to Strengthen Ties with Southeast Asian Power. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/29/macron-vietnam-visit-aisyla-quoted/

French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse Brigitte Macron waved goodbye as they departed from Hà Nội on May 27 afternoon for Indonesia and Singapore, the two next stops in their Southeast Asia tour.

(Source: VNA/VNS)

The French President and his spouse paid tribute at President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum during their visit to Vietnam.
General Secretary Tô Lâm and President Macron discussed bilateral relations and shared updates on their countries' economic development.
Both sides agreed to expand their partnership into new areas like infrastructure, urban transport, aerospace, and new energy.
Macron attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the VNVC vaccine and bioproduct manufacturing plant, a modern facility developed with technology transferred by a French pharmaceutical giant.
The visit also included a tour of Hà Nội's Old Quarter and Hoàn Kië̂m Lake for the French guests.
During the visit, Macron and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha had a working breakfast with energy sector business representatives from both countries.
In the realm of education, Macron visited the University of Science and Technology of Hà Nội.
NGOs called upon Macron to address human rights issues during his visit to Vietnam, including the release of detained human rights defenders and the repeal of repressive laws.