Vietnamese, US presidents meet in Hanoi

U.S. President Barack Obama arrived at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday morning, where he was received by his Vietnamese counterpart, kicking off a three-day official visit to Vietnam.

The U.S. president left his hotel at 10:20 am and came to the Presidential Palace in Ba Dinh District at 10:30 am for the official reception by Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang.

Hundreds of locals and international reporters had been present at the venue since early morning to report on the ceremony.

After reviewing the guard of honor, the two presidents stood for the national anthems of the two countries, before entering the palace for a private talk at roughly 10:50 am.

According to Obama’s agenda, he will join the Vietnamese state president in witnessing the signing of several bilateral agreements, and meet with Vietnamese Chairwoman of the lawmaking National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, at late President Ho Chi Minh’s former residence in Hanoi in the afternoon.

President Obama will also join talks with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong later the same day.

The leaders will sit for a state dinner in the evening.

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang review the honor guard at the Presidential Palace in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi on May 23, 2016. Photo: Tuoi Tre

U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang stand for the national anthems at the Presidential Palace in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi on May 23, 2016. Photo: Tuoi Tre

From right: U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius during the talk with Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 23, 2016. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The motorcade of Barack Obama moves from the JW Marriott Hotel to the Presidential Palace in Hanoi as onlookers crowd the sidewalks to welcome the U.S. president. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Local and international reporters are seen at the Presidential Palace to report on the reception ceremony on May 23, 2016 in this footage. Clip: Tuoi Tre

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