In Photos: Overview of Japan Emperor, Empress visit to Vietnam

VOV.VN - Japan Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid their first state visit to Vietnam February 28-March 5 at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse.

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Hanoi on Feb. 28 for a six-day state visit.

President Tran Dai Quang gave a red-carpet welcome to the Emperor and Empress on March 1.

During the talks with Emperor Akihito, President Quang expresses the belief that the visit will contribute to consolidating mutual trust and understanding between the two people as well as their sentiments towards each other, thus further expanding the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

The royal couple show their delight at their first-ever visit and thank the Vietnamese side for its warm welcome.

After the welcome ceremony, the imperial couple laid a wreath and paid homage to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi.

At a meeting with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the Emperor and Empress express their sympathy to the Vietnamese people over the losses caused by the impacts of climate change such as drought, saline intrusion and environmental pollution.

On the evening of March 1, President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse hosted a State banquet in honour of visiting Japanese Emperor and Empress.

On March 2, the imperial couple met with Vietnamese alumni who once studied in Japan at the Van Mieu Temple of Literature in Hanoi.

They met with Vietnamese women who married Japanese soldiers deployed in the Southeast Asian country during WWII.

The imperial couple visited the Museum of Biology of the Vietnam National University in Hanoi where specimens of white goby fish and Onagadori chicken, gifts from the Japanese Royal Family, are preserved.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on March 2, describing their visit to Vietnam as a significant and memorable landmark in bilateral ties.

After a courtesy meeting with PM Phuc, the imperial couple attended a banquet hosted by the Japanese Embassy at Hanoi Sheraton Hotel on March 2.

On March 3, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception 3 for the royal couple.

The Party chief and his spouse said good-bye to the Japanese royal couple before they left Hanoi for Hue city on March 3.

President Quang and his wife also said good-bye to the imperial couple and hoped that they will take time to enjoy the ancient and peaceful Hue city, and experience the similarity in culture of the two countries through Nha nhac-the Hue court music.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Hue on the afternoon of March 3, the third day of their historic state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

On March 4 they visited the Hue imperial citadel where they were welcomed at Thai Hoa Palace and enjoyed Hue royal court music, recognized as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2003.