New Delhi: President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind was paid a State Visit to Vietnam and Australia from November 18-24, 2018. He will be accompanied by Shri Anant Kumar Hegde, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, two Members of Parliament Shri Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, Dr. Heena Vijaykumar Gavit and other officials.
On the first leg of his two-nation tour, Rashtrapati ji was visited to Vietnam from 18-20 November 2018 on the invitation of Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. There was being a ceremonial reception for Rashtrapati ji at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. He would also lay wreaths at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. President Kovind has a restricted meeting and delegation level talks with President Trong, who was hosted a banquet in honour of Rashtrapati ji. Prime Minister Phuc and Chairperson of the National Assembly Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will have meetings with Rashtrapati ji. As part of his programme, President was addressed the National Assembly of Vietnam.
In Hanoi, President was addressed the Indian community and the Vietnam-India Business Forum. India and Vietnam has robust trade and economic relations with bilateral trade of US$ 12.8 billion in 2017-18.
The visit of Rashtrapatiji was commencing in Da Nang, which has rich historical and civilizational connection with India. Da Nang is famous for its world heritage site of My Son; and has remnants of Buddhist connections and the Hindu Cham civilization in the form of Ancient Temples. Archaeological Survey of India is helping Vietnam in the preservation and conservation of some of the temples.