King Philippe & Queen Mathilde are making a state visit to Vietnam from 1 April to 3 April 2025. They will be visiting Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City.
Sunday 30 March 2025
King Philippe & Queen Mathilde take off from Melsbroek airport.
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Arrival in Hanoi, Vietnam.
With Belgian ambassador Karl Van den Bossche.
Tuesday 1 April 2025
The first day of the State Visit focused on meetings with the Vietnamese authorities.
After ceremonies at the Monument of National Heroes and the Mausoleum of Hô Chi Minh, the father of modern Vietnam, the King and Queen were officially welcomed by the President of the Republic and his wife.
The Queen then went to the National Hospital of Pediatrics, an institution that cooperates with several Belgian institutions: the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital, the Université libre de Bruxelles and the Haute école Léonard de Vinci.
In the evening there was a state banquet.
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Meeting at the presidential palace with Vietnam's President Luong Cuong & his wife Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet.
The Queen and the First Lady visited the ‘Stilt House’, the former home of President Hô Chi Minh.
The Queen then went to the National Hospital of Pediatrics, an institution that cooperates with several Belgian institutions: the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital, the Université libre de Bruxelles and the Haute école Léonard de Vinci.
Coffee ceremony.
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Mathilde was wearing her dragonfly brooch as a hair ornament!
Wednesday 2 April 2025
Opening of the DEEP C Service Complex in Hai Phong. DEEP C is the largest Belgian investment in Vietnam. The company develops industrial and port zones in North Vietnam.
Opening of the DEEP C Service Complex in Hai Phong. DEEP C is the largest Belgian investment in Vietnam. The company develops industrial and port zones in North Vietnam.
Business luncheon with Vietnamese and Belgian CEOs and policy makers.
In the evening the King & Queen flew to Ho Chi Minh City where they would be spending the last day of the state visit.
Thursday 3 April 2025
Visit to the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in traditional Vietnamese architecture.
Visit to the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, a Buddhist temple built in traditional Vietnamese architecture.
Then King Philippe & Queen Mathilde met the students of the bakery school of the Belgian company
Puratos. Some 50 young Vietnamese from vulnerable communities in the region are currently training there to become bakers and pastry chefs.
The King & Queen also attended a working lunch on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) challenges in the private sector.
After lunch, The King & Queen visited an exhibition about Agent Orange, an ultra-toxic product that was widely used during the Vietnam War and that, more than 50 years after the last spraying, still has disastrous effects on the environment and the health of the Vietnamese.
With Haemers Technologies CEO Jan Haemers at the War Remnants Museum.
Then there was a final reception ...
... Before King Philippe & Queen Mathilde, together with their delegation, boarded the plane to return to Belgium.
Charming detail, Mathilde was wearing a scarf that had been gifted to her by the Vietnamese first lady!
